President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed former communications minister Dina Pule as Minister of Social Development, returning her to Cabinet more than a decade after Parliament’s ethics committee found her guilty of breaching its code of conduct.

Pule was fired by then-President Jacob Zuma in July 2013 and sanctioned by Parliament’s ethics committee, which found that she had failed to disclose her personal relationship with businessman Phosane Mngqibisa.

The committee found that Mngqibisa had benefited from government-funded overseas trips and official meetings despite having no formal role in the Department of Communications, and that his company, Khemano, was paid R6 million for the 2012 ICT Indaba. Mngqibisa also told the committee he had received R600,000 as a “salary”.

Pule’s appointment was announced on Tuesday evening by The Presidency as part of changes to the national executive following consultations between Ramaphosa and the leadership of the Democratic Alliance.

The Presidency said Pule would fill the vacant Social Development portfolio, while several DA figures would be moved into ministerial and deputy ministerial posts across departments.

Willem Aucamp has been appointed Minister of Agriculture, while David Maynier becomes Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment.

Ramaphosa also appointed former DA leader and former Agriculture minister John Steenhuisen as Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition. Alexandra Abrahams was named Deputy Minister of Electricity and Energy, Jack Bloom Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation, and Yusuf Cassim Deputy Minister of Higher Education.

The changes affect the portfolios of agriculture, forestry, fisheries and the environment, trade, industry and competition, electricity and energy, higher education, and water and sanitation.

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Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has appointed former Finance MEC Lebogang Maile as the new MEC for Education, replacing Matome Chiloane, in a cabinet reshuffle that brings the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) into the provincial executive.

Speaking at a press briefing on Wednesday, Lesufi confirmed that EFF Gauteng chairperson Nkululeko Dunga will take over the Finance portfolio, saying the move, approved by ANC national leadership, was aimed at stabilising governance and unlocking service delivery.

“It was within this context that the national leadership of the ruling party gave us the go-ahead to engage with other political parties… so that we can stabilise numbers and ensure that we’ve got a reliable government in our province,” Lesufi said.

The reshuffle follows mounting instability in Gauteng’s Government of Provincial Unity, where disputes among coalition partners recently delayed the adoption of an adjustment budget.

Lesufi said the EFF had agreed to join the executive after negotiations, while talks with the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) are continuing.

“Both the Economic Freedom Fighters as well as uMkhonto weSizwe Party agreed to cooperate with us… the discussion with the Economic Freedom Fighters was concluded and they’ve accepted our offer to bring them into the executive,” he said.

Addressing Chiloane’s removal, Lesufi said the decision was not performance-related.

“I must be honest, I’m hurt with MEC Chiloane. He’s done nothing wrong… it has been a difficult decision,” he said, adding that alternative responsibilities would be considered for him.

Lesufi acknowledged that political considerations influenced the reshuffle.

“The problem with appointments… is that it’s a very difficult situation,” he said.

Defending Dunga’s appointment, Lesufi said it reflected respect for coalition partners.

“We don’t want to invite somebody to be part of the government and undermine their role… MEC Dunga was an MMC of finance in Ekurhuleni, so we’re not throwing him in a lion’s den,” he said.

Dunga’s return follows his removal as Ekurhuleni finance MMC amid disputes with the ANC-led administration.

Lesufi also outlined progress on service delivery, particularly water supply stabilisation.

“Almost 90% of our province has access to water now,” he said, citing infrastructure upgrades, leak repairs and improved coordination, alongside long-term planning linked to Phase 2 of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project.

He stressed that the ANC would maintain existing partnerships despite bringing in the EFF.

“We respect partnership… we don’t dump you,” he said.

Lesufi added that engagement with multiple parties would continue, with talks with the MKP still underway.

Beyond politics, he highlighted priorities including economic growth, crime reduction and social support, noting a food distribution programme reaching over 400,000 residents and the deployment of SANDF troops to crime hotspots.

“As you all know, Gauteng remains the epicentre of crime, but since the deployment of soldiers, we’ve seen a drastic shift,” he said.

Newly appointed MECs are expected to be sworn in on Thursday.

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Cosatu president Zingiswa Losi has called on President Cyril Ramaphosa to put his foot down and expel DA Cabinet ministers from the government for not towing the line and voting against the budget.

Speaking on Radio 702’s political programme, Losi said Ramaphosa had every right to reshuffle ministers who were opposed to Cabinet decisions of the Government of National Unity.

“Indeed, we are calling for a reshuffle,” said Losi, adding that it was about time that the president dealt with the DA so the ANC could bring on board other parties who were willing to co-operate.

Losi said it could not be that DA members could vote against the budget while they were part of government, and it became business as usual.

She said the DA’s actions had vindicated the federation, which remained opposed to any coalition that included the DA.

“We would not be shocked to see stunts like this taken by the DA in Parliament. I think the DA getting into the GNU was just to elevate themselves politically and use that to be seen [as] the ones who are governing this country and to act if they are in charge of South Africa and, therefore, win their way towards the next local government elections.

“I don’t think they had understood what it had really meant for South Africa, not for the global world, for South Africa to be in government and going into government with other political parties,” she said.

Losi said the DA needed to make up its mind about whether it wanted to be in the GNU or play politics with the GNU.

“But also, the president cannot wait… I think the president must as I said deliver on his executive mandate and say if you are opposed to what the Cabinet is saying and you are a Cabinet minister, you can reshuffle. You have the right to reshuffle,” she said.

Losi said other political parties in the GNU should not allow themselves to be hamstrung by one political party, which blew hot and cold on its commitment to co-govern.

She added that once that firm decision was communicated to the DA, then the ANC would begin to bring other parties in that would be willing to help govern and take the country forward.

Losi said empty threats by DA Federal Council chairperson Helen Zille should be ignored because the executive authority of a president could not be challenged.

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South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir has dismissed his intelligence chief and two of the country’s vice-presidents, replacing one of his closest allies with a senior advisor whom analysts believe Kiir may be readying to succeed him.

South Sudan has been formally at peace since a 2018 deal ended a five-year civil war in which hundreds of thousands of people died.

But the country remains in the grip of a humanitarian crisis because of sporadic violence, food insecurity, poor healthcare and extreme weather.

In several decrees announced by newsreaders on the state broadcaster late on Monday, Kiir removed long-serving Vice-President James Wani Igga and promoted in his place Benjamin Bol Mel, a close advisor seen as having growing influence over decision-making in the government.

Bol Mel, a businessman designated on the United States’ sanctions list for his links to construction firms accused of money-laundering, will head the economic portfolio of ministries.

“All indicators around Bol Mel show… that Bol is the only power to reckon with within South Sudan,” Abraham Kuol Nyuon, Professor of Political Science at the University of Juba, told Reuters.

“It seems to me the president might have a plan for him as somebody who (has) had an interest in trying to promote the interest of the president,” he added.

Reuters was not immediately able to seek comment from Bol Mel.

Wani Igga’s deputy press secretary said the outgoing vice-president wished all the best to those taking over and continuing with nation-building.

Kiir, who is 73, also replaced his National Security Service (NSS) chief, Akec Tong Aleu, with Charles Chiek Mayo, who will serve on an acting basis until a permanent replacement is found.

South Sudan has five vice-presidents, with Kiir’s longtime rival and opposition leader Riek Machar serving as first vice-president.

National elections have been delayed twice as disagreements between Kiir and Machar – who led opposing sides in the civil war – have complicated the implementation of the peace process.

Abrupt changes to senior posts have been frequent in recent years.

Analysts believe Kiir’s latest reshuffle is aimed at consolidating his power within the ruling party ahead of long-delayed elections which are expected to be held next year.

Reuters

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The recent Cabinet reshuffle by President Cyril Ramaphosa, involving the reassignment of Minister Thembi Simelane from justice to the human settlements, has ignited widespread condemnation and concerns about the state of governance and accountability in the country.

Critics, including political parties and watchdog groups, have argued that the move reflects a pattern of shielding compromised leaders rather than prioritising effective service delivery.

The Economic Freedom Fighters said on Wednesday the reshuffle was another pointless exercise that would achieve nothing in addressing the suffering of the people of South Africa.

Spokesperson Leigh-Anne Mathys said instead of addressing the real crises facing the country, the DA-ANC coalition government prioritised rewarding its cronies with cushy positions.

“The only Cabinet reshuffle that will bring any meaningful change to the lives of our people is the removal of this bloated and corrupt government, which continues to rob the people of South Africa to sustain the lavish lifestyles of a few political elites,” Mathys said.

She said the reshuffle was part of a broader strategy of recycling compromised leaders, in order to shield corrupt officials and create an illusion of accountability.

The Democratic Alliance denounced Simelane’s appointment, citing her involvement with a company linked to the VBS Bank scandal and irregularities in her personal finances.

Human Settlements spokesperson Luyolo Mphiti labelled her unfit to hold office, emphasising that her new portfolio oversaw an annual budget of R33 billion dedicated to addressing South Africa’s housing crisis.

“For the 13 million South Africans still living in informal settlements, for the 2.5 million still on the housing register list and for the millions of South Africans still awaiting title deeds, the announcement of Thembi Simelane is a slap in the face to them,” Mphiti said.

He demanded Simelane’s removal, asserting that unresolved allegations against her undermined the integrity of her office.

Further controversy surrounds Simelane’s business dealings, with investigative reports revealing that her companies, including T5 Investment Group and Silvanas Events, allegedly showed financial discrepancies between income and expenses.

Bank statements from 2019 and 2020 suggest her businesses were used to fund her lavish lifestyle, with expenses significantly outweighing revenues.

The Public Protector has initiated a probe into allegations that kickbacks from the VBS Bank were used to purchase one of her businesses.

NGO Defend Our Democracy, representing several organisations, including the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation and the Fair Labour Practice, called for Simelane to be relieved of her duties in light of Anti-Corruption Week.

“Perceptions of corruption and conflicts of interest cause significant harm to public confidence in governance institutions. If the allegations against Minister Simelane were deemed sufficiently serious for her to be removed from the justice portfolio, they are of sufficient seriousness for her to be removed from the executive altogether,” the organisation said.

It argued that appointing Simelane to a critical department despite unresolved allegations reflected a broader culture of impunity within government ranks.

The reshuffle has also drawn sharp criticism from the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party, which views Simelane’s removal from the justice portfolio as a politically motivated attack by the president to extinguish criticism of his leadership.

MKP spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela said her opposition to renewing Advocate Shamila Batohi’s term as National Director of Public Prosecutions and her criticisms of questionable appointments within the National Prosecuting Authority made her a target.

“This decision is not about ensuring a more effective Cabinet, but is a calculated move to silence a principled leader who refuses to align with Mr Ramaphosa’s factional and self-serving agenda,” Ndhlela said.

He alleged the reshuffle is part of Ramaphosa’s strategy to consolidate control over the justice system while deflecting attention from unresolved scandals, such as the Phala Phala affair.

Nhlamulo said that while the president justified the reshuffle as a move to enhance Cabinet efficiency, his decision has raised questions about accountability.

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President Cyril Ramaphosa has reshuffled the Cabinet, making four changes.

In a statement issued on Tuesday night the president said he had made the changes to “ensure the effectiveness of Cabinet in delivering to its mandate and in accordance with section 91(2) of the Constitution”.

Mmamoloko Kubayi, who is currently the Minister of Human Settlements has been appointed as Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development.

Thembi Nkadimeng, who is the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, is now the Minister of Human Settlements 

Phumzile Mgcina has been appointed as the Deputy Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources. She had been serving in the national executive as the Deputy Minister of Labour and Employment. 

Judith Nemadzinga-Tshabalala is now the Deputy Minister of Employment and Labour. She had been serving in the national executive as the Deputy Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources.

“The changes to the national executive are effective immediately. I would like to wish these members of the national executive well in their new positions,” Ramaphosa said.

Reacting to the reshuffle, the Democratic Alliance’s Glynnis Breytenbach said the president’s decision to keep Simelane, who has been under pressure to resign following revelations that she received a loan from a company connected to the VBS scandal, was “short-sighted and disrespectful” to South Africa.

“While the president has finally addressed the untenable conflict of interest of having a Minister of Justice accused of corruption, his decision to simply move her somewhere else does not address the underlying issue, she stands accused of corruption and is subject to investigations,” Breytenbach said in a statement.

“Human Settlements is a vital department for providing housing to South Africans. It must be led by a credible individual.”

She said the indecisiveness of the president, who was committed to fighting corruption, was especially shocking and blatantly insincere.

The reshuffle came as surprise to many. The president did not give further details.

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