CHARLES MOLELE
THE moment of truth has finally arrived for President Cyril Ramaphosa to make changes to his executive amid pressure to deal with the dire electricity crisis, high unemployment levels, crime and a bleak economic outlook.
Ramaphosa was re-elected ANC President at the ANC’s 55th National Conference in December. His lobbyists and supporters have since secured positions in the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC), and other top leadership positions at Luthuli House.
Ramaphosa knows very well that political opportunism may get you into office, but it cannot reform a country or address the following challenges: Load-shedding, unemployment, poverty and the rising cost of living, and lastly, crime and corruption. The nation expects him to act and remove under-performing ministers from his Cabinet and ensure the new executive unites behind his bold plans to tackle these challenges ahead of the 2024 General Elections.
His spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said the president appreciates the importance of putting in place a national executive that will build on the commitments government has made for faster growth through investment drive, economic reforms, public employment programmes and an expanding infrastructure programme.
“Having exercised his constitutional prerogative, the President will announce the new National Executive at 7pm tomorrow, Monday, 6 March 2023,” said Mgwenya.
“This will reinforce government’s focus – as the president said in Sona – on those actions that will make a meaningful difference now, that will enable real progress within the next year, and that will lay a foundation for a sustained recovery into the future.”
Ramaphosa is also expected to announce the new Minister of Public Service and Administration, Minister of Transport and the new Minister of Electricity.
POSSIBLE CHANGES
PAUL MASHATILE, ANC Deputy President
Ramaphosa’s supporters do not want him to be appointed as the Deputy President of the country as yet, but he will find it difficult to side-line him for the position following the resignation of David Mabuza. While Ramaphosa can appoint any member of the National Assembly as his Deputy, Mashatile’s supporters argues that “the Deputy President of the ANC must become the Deputy President of the country.” This week, reports emerged that Mashatile lied in a case that sought to nullify the 9th provincial conference by telling the court the party’s national executive committee (NEC) had taken a decision to reappoint the IPC that organised the conference.
BHEKI CELE, Police Minister
Bheki Cele, who employs 14 staffers at an annual cost of R8.4 million, has come under fire for failing to decisively deal with crime and corruption in South Africa. Ramaphosa is under pressure to fire him because under his watch, the police have among others mishandled several high-profile cases, most notably those of former Orlando Pirates goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa, rapper AKA and Hillary Gardee, the daughter of former EFF secretary-general Godrich Gardee. During Ramaphosa’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) in 2019, the president promised to halve violent crimes within 10 years. But the latest crime statistics for the third quarter of 2022/23, for the period October to December 2022, reveals that among others, murders have increased to 80 and rapes to 135 rapes every single day.
PRAVIN GORDHAN, Public Enterprises Minister
Ramaphosa has no choice but to fire him on Monday night, according to government sources close to the process. There has been mounting pressure from different quarters for Ramaphosa to fire Gordhan due to a series of persistent power cuts that have negatively impacted the economy. The power outages have also resulted in many companies and businesses closing down. Under his watch, state-owned enterprises (SOEs) have collapsed. A recent report by AfriForum says that under Gordhan, SOEs continue to “haemorrhage money and provide substandard service to South Africans”. The civil society group also said a recent conservative estimate had found that stage-6 load shedding had cost the economy R4 billion a day, while it also found South Africa’s GDP would have been R360 billion to R450 billion larger without load shedding. The report also said 1 million employment opportunities had been lost because of government-enforced blackouts. Gordhan is alleged to be suffering from an unknown illness, but he has dismissed the reports. “I’m well and working hard for the country. This is clearly created by the corrupt and desperate elements in South Africa who wish to go on stealing, neglect the poor and abuse public resources,” he said.
KGOSIENTSHO RAMOKGOPA, Head of investment and infrastructure in the Presidency
Speculation is rife that Head of infrastructure in the Presidency Kgosientso Ramokgopa will be appointed the new Minister of Electricity. He is considered to one of the rising stars in government and is said to be a close ally of Ramaphosa. Ramokgopa has a BSc degree in electrical engineering and a PhD in public affairs. During his State of the Nation Address (SONA), Ramaphosa said the Minister of Electricity to the Presidency would assume full responsibility for overseeing all aspects of the electricity crisis response. He also said the new Minister of Electricity would help South Africa “deal more effectively and urgently with the challenges that confront us. The Minister of Electricity will focus full-time and work with the Eskom board and management on ending load shedding and ensuring that the Energy Action Plan is implemented without delay.”
GWEDE MANTASHE, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister
Government sources say Energy and Mineral Resources Gwede Mantashe is likely to return to Parliament despite being accused of accepting “donations” from Bosasa to install security systems at his three houses in Cala, Elliot in the Eastern Cape and another in Boksburg in Gauteng. In his report, Justice Raymond Zondo recommended criminal investigations against Mantashe. Mantashe has also differed with Ramaphosa over the Just Energy Transition but remains a supporter of the President. Ahead of the ANC’s National Conference in December, Mantashe defended Ramaphosa following the Phala Phala scandal. Mantashe is likely to be rewarded for his efforts.
PARKS TAU, Member of Parliament
Parks Tau, who was recently sworn in as a Member of Parliament (MP), is regarded as one of the rising stars in government. Tau is the former mayor of Joburg and also served as the MEC for Economic Development, Environment, Agriculture and Rural Development in Gauteng. He has distinguished himself as an excellent administrator and manager, having also served as the Chairperson of the South African Local Government (SALGA) and President of the United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG). Tau is likely to replace Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma as COGTA Minister.
Dr AARON MOTSOALEDI, Home Affairs Minister
Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, who employs 12 staffers at an annual cost of R8.7 million, is expected to be left out of Ramaphosa’s new executive following his failure to turn around the Department of Home Affairs. Under his watch, the Department of Home Affairs has failed to address various challenges, including visa adjudication delays and backlogs. The department has also failed to adequately deal with challenges posed by migration, including undocumented illegal migrants and proliferation of Zama-Zamas (illegal miners) at former mining towns.
DR BLADE NZIMANDE, Higher Education Minister
Dr Blade Nzimande is unlikely to return as Higher Education Minister when Ramaphosa announces his new Cabinet. Nzimande is expected to make way for the newly elected SACP’s General Secretary Solly Mapaila. Those in favour of Mapaila’s elevation say that it has always been the tradition that the Party’s General Secretary often gets a Cabinet post. What made matters worse for Nzimande is that he was not elected to the ANC National Executive Committee (NEC) during the party’s National Conference in December, which is an advantage for many to be appointed into the executive. Deputy Minister of Higher Education Buti Manamela was elected as the new ANC NEC member in December and stands a good chance to be promoted to Nzimande’s position as Higher Education Minister.
LINDIWE SISULU, Tourism Minister
Lindiwe Sisulu is one of the Cabinet members who is likely to get the chop when Ramaphosa announces his new executive. A fierce critic of the President, Sisulu also tried to challenge Ramaphosa for the position of ANC President at the ANC’s 55th National Conference in December. She was nominated from the floor but failed to meet the threshold. Last month, she was widely criticised for supporting the multi-million-pound deal with Tottenham Hotspur. In the runup to the ANC conference, she also criticised Ramaphosa over the Phala Phala saga, and further challenged him to step aside because the forex scandal was bringing the ANC into disrepute.
NATHI MTHETHWA, Sport, Arts and Culture Minister
Nathi Mthethwa is expected to be replaced as the Sport, Arts and Culture Minister. Mthethwa has been widely criticised by artists for failing to address their issues. He has also been held responsible for the chaotic state of the National Arts Council (NAC) following a spate of resignations and various allegations of mismanagement. Artists were also left with little to no support during the lockdown implemented by President Cyril Ramaphosa in March 2020 to contain the spread of CVOID-19. Mthethwa was also forced to review the decision to erect a R22 million flag after a major public backlash.
SIHLE ZIKALALA, Member of Parlaiment
Sihle Zikalala, a former Premier of KwaZulu-Natal and chairperson of the ANC in KZN, is regarded as one of the rising stars in government. He is likely to be offered a Cabinet post after being sworn in recently as a Member of Parliament (MP). Zikalala was booted out as ANC KZN chairperson and accused of being a “sell-out” after he ditched former President Jacob Zuma.
MAITE NKOANA-MASHABANE, Minister in the Presidency for Women and Youth & MAROPENE RAMOKGOPA, ANC Second Secretary-General
There is a big push for Ramaphosa to replace Maite Nkoana-Mashabane as Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities with ANC’s Second Deputy Secretary-General, Maropene Ramokgopa. However, Ramokgopa is said to be uncomfortable with Nkoana-Mashabane’s removal given the support she got from her over the past few years, including offering her a job as her adviser. On the other hand, there are those in favour of Ramokgopha to be appointed Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation to prepare her to take over from Naledi Pandor after the 2024 General Elections. Those who are lobbying for her to take over as Minister of Women, Youth and People with Disabilities in the Presidency, argue that she will do well in that portfolio, given her experience as ANC Women’s League’s National Coordinator.
THEMBI NKADIMENG, COGTA Deputy Minister
Thembi Nkadimeng, COGTA Deputy Minister, is a loyal supporter of Ramaphosa. She was elected to ANC National Executive Committe (NEC) in December and is also considered one of the rising stars in government. Nkadimeng is likely to be promoted when Ramaphosa announces his Cabinet this evening. She is the former president of the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) and former mayor of Polokwane in Limpopo. She also served as Co-President of United Cities of Local Government (UCLG). Nkadimeng holds a Higher Education Diploma, a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) degree as well as a BPhil (Political Studies) which she obtained from the University of Stellenbosch.
INSIDE POLITICS
