Johnathan Paoli
THE Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) have denounced President Cyril Ramaphosa’s decision to redefine the Cabinet and called the government of national unity (GNU) as nothing but a smokescreen for a grand coalition between the African National Congress (ANC) and the Democratic Alliance (DA).
Following the much-anticipated announcement of the Cabinet by President Cyril Ramaphosa on Sunday, EFF national spokesperson Leigh-Ann Mathys said it is concerning that the Cabinet has been increased and bloated, meaning an increased burden on taxpayers in order to allow for the accommodation of racists and their policies in high positions of power.
“The announcement by Cyril Ramaphosa confirms that the ANC has abandoned its historical role as a liberation movement in Africa, and has solidified its role as an instrument of white supremacy, and domestic and global capital on the continent,” Mathys said.
Mathys said by granting the DA six ministerial positions, and six deputy ministerial roles, in addition to the position of deputy speaker of parliament – the ANC has surpassed the compromises made in 1994.
The decision, she said, will facilitate the entrenchment of market fundamentalism and profit maximisation by the corporate and financial sector at the expense of the poor Black majority.
“At a police level, it is inexcusable to give racists control and influence in sectors such as Agriculture, Trade, Finance, Education, Energy and Infrastructural Development, when they have exhibited that where they govern, they prioritise the interest of the white minority,” Mathys said.
She said the EFF is vindicated in its decision to not form part of the self-juniorisation of political parties who have joined the GNU, where political parties have joined a party of the white capitalist establishment which presided over their descent into insignificance.
“The rest of the so-called GNU members have been rendered glorified spectators, who legitimise the pact the ANC has entered into with racists and their mandated political agenda, which comes from the Oppenheimers and Ruperts,” she said.
The national spokesperson said her party has been consistent in its warning against the investment of the Oppenheimer family in organisations such as the DA and the Inkatha Freedom party and said it formed part of their plan to capture the country’s democratic project and subvert the gains made since 1994.
“We call on all South Africans, the continent, and our allies in the globe to appreciate that South Africa has become a right-wing enclave in the continent, that is unable to commit to meaningful change or challenge global capital, imperialism, and ethnic genocide, because they are in bed with the perpetrators of injustice,” Mathys said.
She said her party will remain the opposition, whose sole responsibility will be to undermine the backward policy advancements of the ANC-DA grand coalition at all levels of government and on the picket lines.
President Ramaphosa on Sunday night told the nation that his new Cabinet will include six DA members: federal leader John Steenhuisen as Minister of Agriculture, former Chief Whip Siviwe Gwarube as Minister of Basic Education, Solly Malatsi as Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Dion George as Forestry and Fisheries minister, Leon Schreiber as Home Affairs Minister, and Dean Macpherson as Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure.
In addition, the DA was granted deputy ministerial positions including, Samantha Graham-Mare as deputy minister of electricity and energy, Ashor Sarupen as deputy of finance, Jane Sithole as deputy of small business development, Mimmy Gondwe as deputy of higher education, Andrew Whitfield as trade, industry and competition deputy, and Sello Seitlholo as water and sanitation deputy.
Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said the new cabinet is expected to be sworn in on Tuesday at the Union Buildings in Pretoria.
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