Whitfield says his axing an 'unnecessary provocation' at a time 'when the GNU is starting to heal'

CAPE TOWN - Former deputy minister of trade, industry and competition, Andrew Whitfield, has described his axing as an "unnecessary provocation" at a time when the Government of National Unity (GNU) had just overcome its differences on the national budget.

He said that if it was so that he was fired for an unsanctioned overseas trip four months ago, the response had been disproportionate and inconsistent.

Speaking to CapeTalk on Friday morning, Whitfield said that he hoped this matter did not impact the stability of the GNU.

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  While the Democratic Alliance (DA)'s executive fumes at the dismissal of Whitfield, the first minister to be fired in the first year of the new administration, Whitfield himself has questioned the timing.

He said that his request to travel in February on party business, and his subsequent correspondence to the Presidency acknowledging his transgression, went unanswered.

"I think it's an unnecessary provocation on an issue that could have been resolved earlier and secondly, differently."

While Whitfield doesn’t believe Ramaphosa has consistently applied the travel rule to all ministers, he doesn’t want to see the GNU collapse over this latest spat.

"I think he has turned up the heat at a really unfortunate time, when the GNU is starting to heal post the budget negotiations and the VAT debacle."

While the DA's federal executive has set President Ramaphosa an ultimatum to axe ministers who are accused of corruption within the next day, it hasn't said what steps it will take, if he doesn't.