By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Newly appointed Ministers and Deputy Ministers were sworn-in on Friday, at the Union Buildings, in Pretoria.
President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday night announced changes to his cabinet, as part of improving the capacity of government.
Among other changes announced by the President is the separation of the Ministry of Human Settlements from the Ministry of Water and Sanitation. The two portfolios were brought together with the understanding that the provision of water is closely tied to the development of human settlements.
The President also announced the decision to do away with the Ministry of State Security and place political responsibility for the State Security Agency within the Presidency.
The appointment of new Ministers and Deputy Ministers is made at a time when government is facing several challenges, including reworking to accelerate its vaccination programme to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic, and at the same time, working to ensure peace and stability in the wake of the recent outbreak of violence and destruction in parts of the country.
The new Ministers sworn-in are:
- Enoch Godongwana, appointed as the new Finance Minister.
- Dr Joe Phaahla, appointed as the new Minister of Health.
- Mondli Gungubele, appointed as the new Minister in the Presidency.
The new Deputy Ministers sworn-in are:
- Mr Mohlophi Philemon Mapulane – Deputy Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies.
- Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo – Deputy Minister of Health.
- Dr Nobuhle Nkabane – Deputy Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy.
- Dr Chana Pilane-Majake – Deputy Minister of Public Service and Administration.
Meanwhile the ANC caucus in Parliament has welcomed President Cyril Ramaphosa’s decision to rearrange the Cabinet, saying it fully supports the reshuffle.
In a statement, ANC chief whip Pemmy Majodina said on Friday that the changes were necessary and aimed “at improving the capacity and effectiveness of the state machinery to carry out its constitutional obligations”.
“We wish the appointed cadres great strength and courage in fulfilling their leadership deployments and wish those who will no longer be part of the executive well in their future endeavours and thank them profusely for their service to the nation.
Caucus notes and appreciates that the country faces many pressing and urgent challenges and with these appointments we hope the government’s ongoing efforts of addressing the impact of Covid-19 on the lives of citizens will be bolstered,” Majodina said.
Majodina indicated that while South Africa was still fighting the Covid-19 pandemic, there needed to be a speedy rollout of the vaccine.
The Economic Freedom Fighters(EFF) rejected the reshuffle specifically, strongly criticising the appointment of Enoch Godongwana as the new minister of finance.
The Red Berets also expressed their dissatisfaction with outgoing Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams remaining in Cabinet as well Police Minister Bheki Cele.
“Ramaphosa’s Cabinet reshuffle demonstrates a lack of decisiveness, understanding of political leadership and governance. At the current rate, all ministries will end up as ministries in the presidency because the head of Cabinet is weak and suffers serious insecurities inside the political party he leads,” the party said in a statement.
The Democratic Aliiance leader, John Steenhuisen, welcomed the resignation of Zweli Mkhize from his position as the minister of health, however, he raised concerns over the decision to move the State Security into the Presidency.
Steenhuisen said the Cabinet reshuffle also should have been an opportunity to fire both Cele and State Security Minister Ayanda Dlodlo as well as Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe.
Similarly, it is puzzling how Minister David Mahlobo has managed to hold on to his job given the damning revelations at the State Capture Commission,” the DA leader said on Twitter.
The Congress of the People (Cope) pointed out that the reshuffle was long overdue, further saying it lacked crucial changes.