Staff Reporter
Economic Freedom Figheters [EFF] leader Julius Malema has lambasted president Cyril Ramaphosa after his decision to re-appoint Public Enterprise Minister Pravin Gordhan, despite having been found guilty of improper conduct over his approval of then deputy SA Revenue Services Commissioner Ivan Pillay’s early retirement and payout.
In a video recording posted on social media by his party soon after Ramaphosa announced his new cabinet, Malema accused Ramaphosa of undermining the constitution by appointing Gordhan into his cabinet.
“To appoint Pravin, was to show a middle finger to the chapter nine institution, to the constitution and democracy. All those who love our constitution, all those who support our democracy, must stand against the appointment of Pravin,” said Malema.
He said his party would demand answers from Ramaphosa in Parliament on June 20- the day the president is scheduled to deliver his state of the nation address.
“We will [come] face to face with the president on the 20th of June because from now onward, Cyril Ramaphosa is a constitutional delinquent. He has got no respect for chapter 9 institutions…. he has got no respect for the constitution and therefore he must be put at his place where the constitutional delinquent belong,” said Malema.
The EFF leader also questioned Ramaphosa’s decision to include Gwede Mantashe and Thabang Makwetla into his executive, despited them being implicated in the Bosasa scandal. Mantashe was appointed minster of minerals and energy, while Makwetla returns to the defense deparment as deputy minister.
“We have seen the return of Bosasa people like Gwede Mantashe and Thabang Makwetla. Those are the people you dont need in the so called new dawn. The ony positive thing about the whole cabinet is that we have 50/50 men and women. That’s a positive outcome, but the whole achievements gets undermined by the fact that cabinet remains bloated and this is going to cost South Africa a lot of money.
“There was no way he [Ramaphosa] was going to reduce it [cabinet] because he want to balance factions. He must appease everyone so that there’s no war declared against him,” said Malema.
