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Message: [QUOTE="Munyaradzi Mafaro, post: 47555, member: 636"] South African President Cyril Ramaphosa removed Andrew Whitfield from his position as deputy trade minister on Wednesday. Whitfield belongs to the Democratic Alliance party. The president gave no official reason for the dismissal. His office stated that no major cabinet changes would follow. The move creates new tension between coalition partners. Democratic Alliance leader John Steenhuisen explained the real reason behind Whitfield's removal. Whitfield had traveled to the United States earlier without getting presidential approval first. The deputy minister had written a letter asking for permission to make the trip. Ramaphosa never responded to the request. Steenhuisen called the firing a deliberate attack on his party. The African National Congress and Democratic Alliance have disagreed on budget matters and racial inequality policies. Both parties formed a coalition government after the ANC lost significant voter support last year. Political experts believe the partnership will survive despite public arguments. Financial markets remained stable following the announcement. Steenhuisen criticized Ramaphosa for not firing ANC officials linked to corruption cases instead. The DA leader said his party would still support important budget legislation on Thursday. The Division of Revenue Bill represents a key part of government spending plans. The Democratic Alliance Federal Executive plans to meet Thursday for more discussions. Currency and bond markets showed little reaction to the political drama. [/QUOTE]

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