Illustrative image, from left: Sacked second deputy minister for the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition, Andrew Whitfield. (Photo: Michael Sheehan / Gallo Images) | DA leader John Steenhuisen (Photo: Misha Jordaan / Gallo Images) | President Cyril Ramaphosa. (Photo: Gallo Images / Brenton Geach) | Paper (Image: Istock) 
Nearly four months after President Cyril Ramaphosa sacked Andrew Whitfield, the former second deputy minister of trade, industry and competition, the DA is yet to suggest his replacement.
DA leader John Steenhuisen’s spokesperson, Charity McCord, confirmed to Daily Maverick this week that the matter “is being finalised”. She said Steenhuisen would “communicate formally once this process is completed”.
This is after Steenhuisen said the DA was in the final stages of “dealing” with Whitfield’s replacement in mid-August, News24 reported.
The Trade and Industry portfolio was highly sought after by the party in Government of National Unity (GNU) negotiations between the DA and the ANC last year, Reuters reported. Disagreement between the two parties after the ANC withdrew an initial offer to appoint a member of the DA as Trade and Industry Minister threatened to derail the collaboration between them.
Read more: Who will blink first in a game of chicken between DA and ANC? Steenhuisen or Ramaphosa?
The position of second Deputy Minister for the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC) – ostensibly central to the ongoing US-SA trade negotiations – has been vacant since June, when Ramaphosa axed Whitfield for travelling to the US without his approval.
/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/ED_444979.jpg "Sacked second deputy minister for trade, industry and competition, and now DA Eastern Cape leader Andrew Whitfield. President Cyril Ramaphosa insisted that his sacking of Whitfield was constitutionally sound. (Photo: Lulama Zenzile / Die Burger / Gallo Images)")
The move worsened tensions between the ANC and the DA in the GNU, after clashes between the parties occurred over the 2025 Budget and policies to address racial inequality. After Ramaphosa removed Whitfield from his position, the DA gave the President a 48-hour ultimatum to clean house of the ANC ministers accused of corruption. If not, there would be “grave consequences”, according to Steenhuisen.
The clear implication was that the party would leave the GNU if what it called for did not happen.
However, the DA later said it would not leave the coalition government or table a motion of no confidence against Ramaphosa. Instead, the party withdrew its participation in the National Dialogue and said it would not support the budget votes of certain corruption-accused ANC ministers, including Human Settlements Minister Thembi Simelane and former Higher Education Minister Nobuhle Nkabane.
Ramaphosa responded that he would not “yield to threats or ultimatums”, insisting that his decision to axe Whitfield was constitutionally sound.
Read more: ‘Clear violation of the rules’ — Ramaphosa breaks silence on Whitfield debacle
According to Ramaphosa, Whitfield’s international visit, which he undertook to Washington for the DA in February, was a “clear violation of the rules” governing members of the executive. He added that there was precedent for this sanction.
The President said he expected Steenhuisen to present him with a replacement for Whitfield from the DA for his approval, “as the DA is entitled to a deputy minister, as agreed”.
On Sunday, 26 October, Ramaphosa’s spokesperson Vincent Magwenya told Daily Maverick: “The matter will be resolved soon.
“As you know, we are in Southeast Asia at the moment, promoting South Africa’s attractiveness as an investment destination and a trading partner to this dynamic region. The good thing is the working relationship remains positive and constructive. So the matter will be resolved fairly soon,” he said.
Read more: Andrew Whitfield returns to Nelson Mandela Bay to coordinate an outright win in the 2026 elections
Ramaphosa is on a working visit in Malaysia, where he is attending the 47th Asean Summit and the East Asian Summit. He is joined by several ministers, including Steenhuisen, Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola, Defence Minister Angie Motshekga and Trade and Industry Minister Parks Tau.
The Trade and Industry portfolio also oversees policies such as Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE). Last week, the DA proposed an “economic inclusion for all” Bill to replace the ANC’s BEE policy with a needs-based approach to tackle poverty.
In a statement issued by the DTIC on behalf of the B-BBEE Commission on 23 October, the Department said the DA’s proposal “represents regression disguised as reform”. DM