Cabinet shakeup as Ramaphosa gives DA deputy minister the boot

Democratic Alliance federal chair Helen Zille has convened an urgent meeting of the party’s Federal Executive, following President Cyril Ramaphosa’s decision to give one of its deputy ministers the boot.

Ramaphosa’s spokesperson Vincent Magwenya confirmed on that the president would be removing Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, the DA’s Andrew Whitfield, from the position.

The confirmation came after earlier reports that the president would be making a larger cabinet reshuffle announcement.

Magwenya said that Ramaphosa had not given any indication that he would conduct a wholesale cabinet reshuffle and so no announcement would be coming.

However, “the removal of the Deputy Minister is true in terms of the applicable constitutional provision,” he said.

Zille said that the DA’s Federal Executive would deliberate on the president’s decision to change the composition of his executive and the Government of National Unity (GNU), and provide feedback later in the day.

Ramaphosa’s move to axe one of the few DA representatives in the government comes amid growing calls for the president to take action against members of his own party in Cabinet.

It was reported that Higher Education and Training Minister Nobuhle Nkabane’s position was under threat due to her handling of chair appointments among sector education and training authority boards.

Former Justice Minister and current Minister of Human Settlements Thembi Simelane has also come under fire for maintaining her position in cabinet amid corruption scandals.

However, the only confirmation that was given was that the DA deputy minister position had been terminated.

It is not yet clear on what basis; however, ministers and deputy ministers serve at the president’s pleasure and can be shuffled in or out without needing a reason.

GNU in question once again

A DA deputy minister being given marching orders will undoubtedly cause new tensions and ructions within the GNU, which is already operating in an antagonistic environment between its two biggest parties.

The GNU was formed after the ANC lost its majority the 2024 national elections and was forced to enter into coaltions with other parties.

While the GNU comprises 10 political parties, it’s the DA and the ANC who account for the majority of the grand coalition, making up 85% of the vote share.

Despite this, the ANC has completely dominated government policy and cabinet positions, with analysts going as far as to say the GNU is simply the ANC, enabled by a wider contingent of political parties.

For perspective, the ANC makes up around 55% of the GNU, but sports the lion’s share of the National Executive.

In addition to the President (Cyril Ramaphosa) and Vice President (Paul Mashatile) positions, the ANC heads 20 (63%) ministries, with an additional 33 (77%) ANC members serving as deputy ministers.

Meanwhile, the DA makes up just over 30% of the GNU, but only took 6 (19%) ministry positions and 6 (13%) deputy positions. It also secured the position of deputy speaker of the National Assembly.

During GNU negotiations, the DA reportedly pushed for a more representative make-up of government, calling for control of 15 ministries, including those with economic heft.

Ultimately, however, the party was largely sidelined from the economic sphere, with only deputy positions in finance and trade and industry to show for it. One of these positions has now been terminated.

ANC dominates the GNU

The ANC’s domination has also shown through the GNU’s policy moves.

While controversial bills like the National Health Insurance Act were signed before the ANC lost its majority, the party continued implementing legislation the DA and other GNU members opposed following the election.

These include the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Act, which the DA opposed and campaigned the 2024 election on shutting down, as well as the Expropriation Act, which has shaken confidence in property rights in the country.

Both these laws were pushed through unchallenged, while the ANC has continued to pursue the NHI and other policies like a basic income grant as if it were still the majority party.

The DA’s influence and power in the GNU were tested with the tabling of the 2025 Budget.

The party opposed the ANC-led VAT hike in the first and second budgets, but failed to stop the framework from being pushed through portfolio committees and the National Assembly.

The ANC passed the budget with a narrow majoirty with the help of parties outside the GNU, namely Action SA and BOSA.

While the DA eventually found success in South Africa’s courts, the political circus showed that even being the second-largest party within the GNU was not enough to hold sway over the ANC.