JOHANNESBURG - The DA is furious with President Cyril Ramaphosa after he fired Deputy Trade, Industry and Competition Minister, Andrew Whitfield.

READ: Ramaphosa removes Andrew Whitfield as deputy minister

A DA member of Parliament, Whitfield was serving in Ramaphosa’s Government of National Unity.

eNCA has confirmed that Whitfield was removed for travelling to the US as part of a DA delegation, even though the president had warned against it.

DA chairperson John Steenhuisen responded to the decision, saying, "There is no other conclusion to be drawn than that this is a calculated political assault on the second-largest party in the governing coalition."

"To make matters even worse, this drastic unilateral action appears to be the product of a flagrant double standard."

DA federal council chairperson, Helen Zille, has called an urgent federal executive meeting to respond to the matter.

She stated in an X (Twitter) post, "The President has been guilty of serious hypocrisy and double standards.  Andrew Whitfield applied to go abroad. The President did not respond, despite several follow-ups from Whitfield's office.  Whitfield did everything he was required to do.  Yet the President fires him and protects corrupt Ministers.  John has made it clear:  we will not take this lying down."

The party has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the president, demanding he dismiss "compromised ministers" including Thembi Simelane, Nobuhle Nkabane, and David Mahlobo.