By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The African National Congress (ANC) has appealed to the media, and South Africans at large, to give the president Cyril Ramaphosa space to finalise his engagements.
When the Cabinet reshuffle has to happen, you will be informed. And I’m sure where you are anxious [and] just waiting every day… that matter will be processed by the president when he is ready.
“Let us all wait for that. It is the prerogative and the call of the president. He will decide on that at the right moment. Hopefully, soon because the deputy president [David Mabuza] has also resigned.
“That puts a little bit of pressure on the process so that the president makes an announcement,” said ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula.
Mbalula made the remarks on Friday, at the ANC’s headquarters in Johannesburg, Luthuli House, during a media briefing on the resolutions of the governing party adopted at its 55th national conference, which took place in December 2022.
He said the delay by Ramaphosa in making changes to his Cabinet had led to growing impatience among some within the party.
Mbalula added that Ramaphosa was not unfazed by those seeking to fast-track the process.
“If the president were to be informed by those anxieties before he makes decisions, then he is not fit to lead the country.”
“Presidents do not act because so many people were talking.”
Despite announcing his desire to introduce a minister of electricity to deal with the energy crisis almost 22 days ago, the resignation of his deputy president, David Mabuza, on Wednesday and the vacating of office by former public service and administration minister Ayanda Dlodlo last year, Ramaphosa has failed to fill these vacancies.
As a result of battling a cold, he postponed announcing changes to his executive on Thursday.
The president’s spokesperson Vincent Magwenya confirmed on Friday that Ramaphosa did have “a minor cold” on Tuesday, but has since recovered.
Magwenya poured cold water on the report saying Ramaphosa had postponed the announcement of cabinet reshuffle because ” he had a minor cold but continued with his duties, including hosting [Uganda’s] President Yoweri Museveni”.
Asked whether there was a scheduled meeting on Thursday at the president’s official residence in Tshwane, Mahlamba Ndlopfu, to finalise new appointments to Cabinet – Magwenya said he wasn’t aware of any meeting that was meant to take place.