So let's turn now to DA national spokesperson Villy Ocamp. Mister Oakump, welcome and thanks very much for your time. I have in front of me obviously the President's statement. I also have the text of John sten Hazen's words to Parliament. I'm struck by this. The President says that when he met with John sten Hazen, he had indicated clearly that he would look for the DA to put forward a replacement for mister Whitfield. In other words, the
DA would not be losing this position. I'm curious as to why mister steen Hazen didn't include that in his account to Parliament, and indeed in his account to the country. It's an important detail. Why was it left out?
Good afternoon, John John. With regards to the why was he left out? I cannot answer you on that, but I can tell you this that this is creating a very dangerous president and maybe this.
Is the Sorry, mister Oakamp, I really need you to engage with the question. Even if you can't answer what was in John steen Haysen's mind, at least give us your view on the significance of the omission.
Well, John, let me explain this to you and maybe you will understand when you hear what I've got to say with regards to this. John Steynasen is very aggrieved by this because this can create a very dangerous president tomorrow or next week or next month. The president can come and can decide, well, now I'm firing Dean McPherson, Now I'm firing sho with Wahube or any of the other deputy ministers or Minissa's from the Democratic Alliance. And
therefore it is not important. The fact that we can now appoint another DA person to that portfolio is not important at all when you compare it to Manissa's having to carry out their duties when they've got this ax behind them next all the time. So it's very important that we see that into the perspective of having to having the right to point another person from the Democratic
Alliance aside. That is true, no doubt, I mean, that is non negotiable, but he should not be done under the circumstances like this.
What aspect of the circumstances are you as the DA grieved about because the statement from the presidents, he says, it was made very clear to everybody in cabinet that you may not travel without permission from the President. Andrew Whitfield chose to do that, perhaps not fully cognizant of the fact that he was now no longer just the DA leader in the Eastern Cape. It was member of the executive by the way, let me put this to you.
In addition, mister Oakom, it wasn't just any trip. The context was a very very tense situation where other people from political actors from South Africa were visiting Washington.
D C.
Surely saw the implications of that.
Well. Mister Whitfield did write a letter to the President when he returned and learned that the President is not happy with this. He wrote a letter to the President in which he apologized if it caused any inconvenience to the President. That letter also, by the way, he has not received any reply to from the President, just as Vincent mcgwena could not now tell you why the President did not answer his initial application. So mister Whitfield did apologize.
I think it might have been a mistake on his part to think, well, maybe I can go. But it needs to be put on record that since the only twelve of February, Andrew Whitfield wrote to the President ten days thereafter, he has still not received an answer, and he followed up with the presidency on a daily basis. So one needs to answer the question, and Vincent macgwenha tried to duck and dive that answer, and that is why didn't the President just say, well, I do not give you permission.
So, mister, what did he apologize for? Because you said if this caused any inconvenience, which is extremely vague. Did he apologize and say I recognize that I broke rules that were made clear to me in my induction process and subsequently in other engagements. Or did he say, well, I'm sorry if I've caused an inconvenience, Because that are two very different things. What did he say in his apology?
John, I did not read the apology letter. I must be honest with you in that regard, so I can't tell you exactly what was said. The fact is that he did apologize. So whether the apology was a very broad apology or a narrow apology admitting to exactly what he did wrong, I cannot tell you that. But the mere fact that he gave an apology to the president, and remember that was done four months ago. So why in four months time. When the President received this letter,
he could have immediately this most team. If you wanted to, why wait four months? I can tell you why it was. Why they've waited four months. Look at the word that Andrew Whitfield is doing in that department. Look at the awarding of the standard of more than sixty billion rand at the lottery commission that was awarded to the sister in law of our Deputy President. I can tell you that they are afraid of the questions that he would have asked as the deputy Minister with regards to that contract.
So just watching the clock a little bit, mester, Oh come, what can you tell us about what the DA is likely to announce by way of its decision tomorrow? Has the party made up its mind what it does next?
No, the party has not yet. We our Federal Executive will convene tomorrow. We will discuss the situation, look at everything that transpired, and we will make an informed decision which we will then convey to the public tomorrow afternoon three o'clock in a press briefing that will take place in Cape Town that has been announced to the public already.
Philly, Oh come, thank you, DA National spokesperson twenty five minutes past five