Charles Molele
President Cyril Ramaphosa has unequivocally kept his promise to the South African people by cutting down the size of his Cabinet and reconfiguring key departments in a desperate bid to step up service delivery.
The number of ministries has been scaled down from 36 to 28, but the number of Deputy Ministers still remains high.
Ramaphosa has also merged several ministries as he promised during the 2019 State of the Nation Address earlier this year. .
Trade and Industry has been combined with Economic Development, while Mineral Resources is combined with Energy.
Human Settlements is combined with Water and Sanitation, and Sports and Recreation is combined with Arts and Culture
“We had already combined the portfolios of Communications and Telecommunications and Postal Services,’ said Ramaphosa.
“We have also decided to add responsibility for infrastructure to the Public Works portfolio and to add responsibility for employment to the Labour portfolio.”
Announcing his new Cabinet on Wednesday night, Ramaphosa said he expected his ministers to hit the ground running.
During former President Jacob Zuma’s administration, the public service was a good hiding place for under-performers and incompetent ministers.
Ramaphosa promised to crack the whip, and said under-performers will be swiftly dealt with.
“Where implementation is unsatisfactory, action will be taken,” said Ramaphosa.
“The people who I am appointing today must realise that the expectations of the South African people have never been greater and that they will shoulder a great responsibility. Their performance – individually and collectively – will be closely monitored against specific outcomes.”
However, there was mixed reaction to of Ramaphosa’s key Cabinet appointments.
Pravin Gordhan was re-appointed Minister of Public Enterprises, despite a damning report last week by the Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane, which found him guilty of ‘improper conduct’ after he approved the retirement payout of former deputy SA Revenue Services commissioner Ivan Pillay.
Ekurhuleni mayor Mzwandile Masina, who is also ANC’s regional chairperson, slammed the appointment of Gordhan as ill-advised.
“The appointment of Pravin undermines the rule of law and makes mockery of our democracy. This is really out of order. I hope the NEC looks into this matter with urgency,” said Masina in his Twitter account shortly after the announcement of a new Cabinet.
The Economic Freedom Fighters has also slammed Ramaphosa re-appointing Gordhan despite Mkhwebane’s damning report.
“The re-appointment of Gordhan means Ramaphosa has no regard for the remedial action and reports of the Chapter 9 Constitutional institution and decisions of the constitutional court. In fact, the appointment of Gordhan is irrational and clearly unconstitutional,” the party said in a media statement.
ANC’s national person Gwede Mantashe was also appointed the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy despite deep reservations by the ANC’s Integrity Commission.
Another surprise appointment was that of Angie Motshekga as Minister of Basic Education.
Motshekga was appointed into her portfolio in 2009 by president Zuma and has already served for two terms.
This will be her third term in the same portfolio.
Ramaphosa replaced Lindiwe Sisulu at the Department of International Relations and Co-operation (DIRCO) with Dr Naledi Pandor. Sisulu is now the Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation.
Former ANC Youth League deputy president Ronald Lamola was appointed Minister of Justice.
Tito Mboweni remained in his portfolio as Minister of Finance while the principal of the OR Tambo School of Leadership, Dr David Masondo, was appointed the Deputy Minister of Finance.
ANC’s head of elections, Fikile Mbalula, was appointed Minister of Transport.
ANC presidency spokesperson Zizi Kodwa, in the other hand, was appointed Deputy Minister of State Security.
‘Deadwood’ ministers who were axed from his Cabinet include Jeff Radebe, Derek Hanekom, Bathabile Dlamini, Siyabonga Cwele, Susan Shabangu, Mildred Oliphant and Nomaindia Mfeketo.
Reacting to the Cabinet announcement, DA leader said: “This is indeed a change of actors performing to the same script. We needed a reset and reform agenda. A cabinet of the future, our economic cluster needs to be smaller and the rest with no Deputy Ministers. A factional war won. South Africa need change!”
