By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema has slammed the Cabinet announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa on Sunday night.
The new cabinet, composed under the National Government of Unity (GNU), consists of a total of 32 ministers and 43 deputy ministers.
Some portfolios were separated to ensure that there is sufficient focus on key issues, said Ramaphosa.
“Given the challenges that the country faces and considering the electoral mandate this government must implement, I have decided to make certain changes to the national government portfolios, “added Ramaphosa.
Taking to social media, Malema hinted at the party taking to the streets to protest against Ramaphosa’s Cabinet.
“The streets are calling; picket lines are part of the theatre of politics. Our generation can’t be part of the betrayal of generations before us, now or never,” said Malema.
In a statement, his party slammed Ramaphosa’s announcement, saying it was “essentially an ANC-DA Cabinet”.
The party previously indicated its intention to join the GNU only if the DA was excluded from it.
When its conditions could not be met, the party stayed away.
“It is even more concerning that this Cabinet has been increased and bloated. This signals more pressure on taxpayers to allow for the accommodation of racists and their policies in high positions of power,” said the party.
“The announcement by Ramaphosa confirms that the ANC has abandoned its historical role as a liberation movement in Africa. It has solidified its role as an instrument of white supremacy and domestic and global capital on the continent.”
“By gifting the DA six ministerial posts, and six deputy ministerial roles, on top of the position of deputy speaker of parliament, the ANC has surpassed the compromises they made in 1994.
“We will remain an effective opposition, whose sole responsibility will be to undermine the backward policy advancements of the ANC-DA grand coalition at all levels of government and on the picket lines.”
The new Cabinet includes ministers and deputy ministers from the ANC, DA, Inkatha Freedom Party , Patriotic Alliance, Good, United Democratic Movement and FF Plus.