By Zukile Majova
The much talked-about cabinet reshuffle is not just coming – it’s here.
The biggest winner is ANC Gauteng strongman Paul Mashatile who replaces David Mabuza as deputy president.
The only other man guaranteed to keep his job is Minerals and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe.
One of the messages that came out after four days of meetings by ANC bigwigs was “Hands off Mantashe”.
On Wednesday President Cyril Ramaphosa will open his first cabinet lekgotla since the ANC elective conference.
The first order of business is to get rid of the rogue ministers who have undermined his authority.
This important planning meeting ahead of the State of Nation address and the budget speech cannot get underway with outgoing ministers still in the room.
Also, whoever will be appointed to cabinet must also be part of the cabinet lekgotla.
This forces Ramaphosa, finally, to get rid of some dead weight.
Over the past few days the ANC has been amending its provincial lists to make way for those who are not yet MPs but likely to be elected into cabinet to become MPs.
By law, cabinet ministers must first be members of parliament.
Already some MPs have been recalled to pave the way.
In KZN for instance Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) MEC Sihle Zikalala was elected number one on the list of the 80-member ANC national executive committee but he is not an MP.
The same goes for former mayor of Johannesburg Parks Tau, former Gauteng premier David Makhura and Mashatile, all from Gauteng and not MPs.
Their names have been recommended to Ramaphosa by the ANC Gauteng executive committee.
The obvious candidates to get the chop are the likes of Cogta Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma and Minister of Tourism Lindiwe Sisulu who actively campaigned to unseat the president.
Also on the firing line is Jacob Zuma loyalist Sports, Arts & Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa.
Other members of cabinet expected to be chopped are those that were not voted into the NEC of the ANC who include Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan, Foreign Affairs Minister Naledi Pandor and Deputy President Mabuza.
There is also a vacancy at public administration and service, created by the departure of Minister Ayanda Dlodlo who joined the World Bank.
The last vacancy is that of Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula who takes up a full time position at Luthuli House as secretary-general.
Ramaphosa is also under pressure to maintain gender balance in his cabinet even though his NEC is dominated by men.
There is for instance not a single woman in the first 11 of the NEC list.
