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Ramaphosa has declared changes to his Cabinet, dividing the opinions of South Africa. We take a look at the good and the bad in the choices.
South Africa’s shiny new president, Cyril Ramaphosa, completed his long-anticipated Cabinet re-shuffle on Tuesday. He made changes to 24 of the 38 portfolios. Most of these seem to be popular choices.
There is a strong reformist impetus to many of the modifications. Through these appointments and dismissals, Ramaphosa is making a significant Anti-Corruption statement. He’s brought back firm citizen favourites, Pravin Gordhan and Nhlanhla Nene. Both men had previously been fired for standing up to Zuma’s state capture shenanigans.
However, there are certain people who should not be in this new Cabinet in times of change. These people have been tainted by allegations of corruption and have links to the Gupta’s plans for pillaging our country.
Before we get into the nitty-gritty, let’s have a look at the changes.
President Ramaphosa also announced changes to the Deputy Ministers.
The scandal-ridden Mabuza has been called a thug, is hopelessly unfit to be the Deputy President of the Republic and nobody will ever be able to justify this appointment. He is an architect of state capture, guilty of blatant corruption, violent thuggery and has even been accused of murder. It is rumoured that he has his own personal 'military' which has allegedly been responsible for numerous political killings in Mpumalanga.
The man could be a serious threat to the political stability of South Africa.
Ramapower Rings Changes
In a statement to the media on Tuesday, 27 February, President Ramaphosa announced the changes to his Cabinet. The new Ministers and Deputy Ministers will be sworn in in Cape Town tomorrow.“With respect to Ministers, I have decided to make the following changes,” he said.
- Communications: Ms Nomvula Mokonyane;
- Energy: Mr Jeff Radebe;
- Higher Education and Training: Ms Naledi Pandor;
- Home Affairs: Mr Malusi Gigaba;
- Human Settlements: Ms Nomaindia Mfeketo;
- International Relations and Cooperation: Ms Lindiwe Sisulu;
- Mineral Resources: Mr Gwede Mantashe;
- Police: Mr Bheki Cele;
- Public Enterprises: Mr Pravin Gordhan;
- (Public) Service and Administration: Ms Ayanda Dlodlo;
- Public Works: Mr Thulas Nxesi;
- Rural Development and Land Reform: Ms Maite Nkoana-Mashabane;
- Science and Technology: Ms Nkhensani Kubayi-Ngubane;
- Social Development: Ms Susan Shabangu;
- Sport and Recreation: Ms Tokozile Xasa;
- State Security: Ms Dipuo Letsatsi-Duba;
- The Presidency: Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation: Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma;
- The Presidency: Women: Ms Bathabile Dlamini;
- Tourism: Mr Derek Hanekom;
- Transport: Dr Blade Nzimande;
- Water and Sanitation: Mr Gugile Nkwinti.
“Pending the completion of their swearing-in as Members of the National Assembly, I intend to further appoint:”
- Mr David Mabuza as the Deputy President of the Republic;
- Dr Zweli Mkhize as Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs;
- Mr Nhlanhla Nene as Minister of Finance;
- Ms Reginah Mhaule as Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation.
President Ramaphosa also announced changes to the Deputy Ministers.
“The positions of Deputy Minister of Public Enterprises and Deputy Minister in the Presidency for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation will remain vacant,” he said.The following changes were made:
- Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries: Mr Sfiso Buthelezi;
- Communications: Ms Pinky Kekana;
- Finance: Mr Mondli Gungubele;
- Public Service and Administration: Dr Chana Pilane-Majeke;
- Small Business Development: Mr Cassel Mathale.
Ramaphosa Cabinet - The Good
The changes have been celebrated by some and scorned by others. The DA and EFF aren't too pleased with all of Ramaphosa's choices, claiming that he hasn't put the country first. The EFF called the reshuffle a realignment of corrupt and delinquent ministers. A lot of good has come out of it, so at least we're on the right track. While we will surely miss his tweets, Fikile Mbalula has been unceremoniously fired. Also handed their marching papers were a number of the captured, corrupt, criminal and downright useless. These include Faith Muthambi, Bongani Bongo, Mosebenzi Zwane, Des van Rooyen, Lynne Brown and David Mahlobo. Then we get to the new appointments and those chosen to take over. First and foremost, Pravin Gordhan is back, albeit not as Minister of Finance. In that regard, the capable Nhlanhla Nene will be back to finish what he started. Gordhan will be undertaking an equally important job - that of rescuing our state-owned enterprises. Our SOE's have been looted, raided and left for dead, costing the Treasury billions in bailouts. Pravin's appointment here is a massive confidence-booster. Deep clean, Pravin, deep clean. Furthermore, Derek Hanekom is back as Minister of Tourism. He was doing a good job before being fired by Zuma. Gwede Mantashe is passionate about the mining sector and is popular among South Africans. He should do well in this portfolio. Tough guy Bheki Cele is a bit of a draw. He will certainly aid in the efforts to bring crime to a halt, but is yet to answer for allegations of corruption which saw him removed as Police Commissioner a couple of years ago.The Bad - A "New Dawn" Indeed
In a statement, the EFF's national spokesperson, Mbuyiseni Ndlozi, had the following to say;"No one, with the best interests of South Africa today, could have Malusi Gigaba, Nomvula Mokonyane [and] Bathabile Dlamini as Cabinet members and ministers."Indeed, the biggest disappointment of all is that Malusi Gigaba still has a job. Somehow, the three names mentioned by the EFF continue to evade the chopping block, and it's a small miracle that Gigaba in particular isn't in jail. To have returned Gigaba to his old post as Minister of Home Affairs seems nonsensical. Opposition parties have accused him of lying under oath in a court of law and have said that to retain him as a minister would be a direct rejection of the Constitution.
"Above all is Gigaba, whose state capture crimes come close to treason as he facilitated the handing over of state institutions to foreign nationals in the form of the Guptas," said Ndlozi.Keeping Gigaba around isn't the worst news though, and neither is the fact that Nomvula Mokonyane, Bathabile Dlamini and Maite Nkoana-Mashaban continue to linger like bad odours. These are all disastrous in their own right, but the biggest problem the South African people face right now is the soon-to-be-appointed David Mabuza as Deputy President.
The scandal-ridden Mabuza has been called a thug, is hopelessly unfit to be the Deputy President of the Republic and nobody will ever be able to justify this appointment. He is an architect of state capture, guilty of blatant corruption, violent thuggery and has even been accused of murder. It is rumoured that he has his own personal 'military' which has allegedly been responsible for numerous political killings in Mpumalanga.
The man could be a serious threat to the political stability of South Africa.