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Minister of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment Willie Aucamp and Trade, Industry, and Competition Deputy Minister Alexandra Abrahams at their swearing-in ceremony on Monday.
- Willie Aucamp and Alexandra Abrahams were sworn into President Ramaphosa’s executive on Monday, filling DA-allocated GNU positions.
- Aucamp succeeds Dion George at the DA’s request, while Abrahams replaces Andrew Whitfield, who was fired by President Cyril Ramaphosa in June.
- The DA has appointed Jan de Villiers as national spokesperson, replacing Aucamp.
The newest members of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s executive, the DA’s Willie Aucamp and Alexandra Abrahams, were sworn in on Monday morning.
Aucamp replaces Dion George as minister of forestry, fisheries, and the environment, while Abrahams is the new deputy minister of trade, industry, and competition.
DA leader John Steenhuisen asked Ramaphosa to replace George with Aucamp and nominated Abrahams to fill the post left vacant when Ramaphosa, in June, fired Andrew Whitfield for travelling to the US on DA business without Ramaphosa’s approval.
Ramaphosa last week indicated that he would make these appointments.
These positions were allocated to the DA at the formation of the government of national unity (GNU).
Ramaphosa’s removal of Whitfield put the DA’s continuation in the GNU in serious doubt, but the coalition arrangement managed to survive.
President Cyril Ramaphosa and Alexandra Abrahams at the Union Buildings on Monday.
Abrahams, who hails from the Western Cape, is in her second term in the National Assembly, where she served in the Portfolio Committee on Social Development.
Aucamp has represented the DA and Northern Cape in the National Council of Provinces after the 2019 elections. He was elected to the National Assembly last year and served in the Portfolio Committee on Agriculture.
READ | Ex-DA minister George faces sexual misconduct claims amid bullying, lavish trips
Steenhuisen’s request to Ramaphosa to remove George has proven controversial. Steenhuisen and Aucamp’s detractors claim this was done to appease the canned lion hunting lobby, while George’s critics point to his performance in the portfolio and alleged claims of sexual misconduct and bullying.
Last week, George angered Ramaphosa by diverging from government policy on wildlife trade at an international event, News24 reported.
Judge Sulet Potterill administers to oath of office to Willie Aucamp.
Monday’s proceedings were presided over by Acting Deputy Judge President of the Gauteng High Court, Sulet Potterill, at the Union Buildings.
Meanwhile, the DA had to appoint a new national spokesperson, as Aucamp had held this post.
On Monday morning, the party announced that Jan de Villiers takes over from Aucamp, and serves with fellow MP Karabo Khakhau. De Villiers is also the chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Public Service and Administration.
