The Week That Was: 23 - 27 June 2025

Top Stories

Rampahosa fires DA Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Andrew Whitfield

In a move that surprised many, Cyril Ramaphosa removed DA MP, Andrew Whitfield, from his executive position as Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition on Thursday. The President “thanked the former deputy minister for the time he served in the role.” This was apparently as a result of Whitfield undertaking a trip to the US in his party capacity, without official approval from the President to do so.

The DA hit back hard with DA Leader and current Minister of Agriculture, John Steenhuisen, issuing Ramaphosa with a 48-hour ultimatum. Steenhuisen called the sacking of Whitfield a “calculated political assault” and called on Ramaphosa to fire three ministers “implicated in serious misconduct”: Thembi Simelane, Nobuhle Nkabane and David Mahlobo. What Steenhuisen and the DA plan to do after the 48 hours expires is unclear but the GNU, returned to some stability following this year’s budget impasse, is once more on the rocks.

PA shocks DA in Mossel Bay and performs well in Knysna

In two Western Cape by-elections contested on Wednesday, the PA once again displayed continuing momentum as next year’s municipal election looms. In Ward 9, Mossel Bay, the PA grew from 7% to 51%, taking the ward off the DA who dropped from to 39% from 45%. The ANC also declined from 17% to 8%.

In Ward 8, Knysna, the ANC held on to its ward but dropped to 52% from 72%. The PA surged from 5% to 32%. In Ward 56 in Tshwane, the DA retained its ward, winning 80% of the vote and growing from 62% to 80%. The next-closest party was the EFF at 10%. Action SA, who won 10% in the ward previously, did not contest. Turnout in the ward was a very low 12%.

Dada Morero survives Motion of No Confidence

City of Johannesburg Mayor, Dada Morero, and Council Chief Whip, Sithembiso Zungu survived motions of no confidence brought against them by the DA. Al-Jamah sponsored a motion of no confidence against ActionSA Speaker, Nobuhle Mthembu, which passed. This may have been due to Action SA deciding to abstain in the motions of no confidence against Morero and Zungu.

Highlights from the South Africa Brief

Jonathan published the final piece in our series on what it takes to establish a competitive national party. He looks at the inaccessibility of politics in South Africa currently and what can be done to change that.

Paul published his latest municipal piece interrogating the draft budgets of the 6 biggest Metros ahead of the start of their new financial year.

Look out for the next “The Real National Dialogue” which will get released today.