Toby Shapshak
Enoch Godongwana is the new Minister of Finance and clueless Ayanda Dlodlo has been demoted from Minister of State Security to public service and administration minister in President Cyril Ramaphosa’s long-awaited Cabinet reshuffle.
In another surprise move, Thandi Modise, the Speaker of Parliament, has been named Minister of Defence and Military Veterans.
She replaces Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, the long standing political head of the ministry, who last month contradicted Ramaphosa’s assertion that the looting and rioting resulted from an organised insurrection. Mapisa-Nqakula pointedly was not offered an alternative post.
Ramaphosa told the country on Thursday night that Tito Mboweni had been asking to go as Minister of Finance for some time. His replacement, Godongwana, is a well-known Ramaphosa ally and is respected as an intellectual and policy planner.
However, some commentators have already pointed out that Godongwana resigned as a Deputy Minister in 2012 after a scandal over his involvement in a company that misappropriated factory workers’ pensions.
The most significant changes announced by the President came about directly as a result of the failures of intelligence and security agencies during last month’s violent unrest.
Ramaphosa has acted to neutralize those who failed in their duties or are suspected of collusion with the RET faction, by scrapping the state security agency and centralising security and intelligence agencies within the presidency.
“This is to ensure that the country’s domestic and foreign intelligence services more effectively enable the President to exercise his responsibility to safeguard the security and integrity of the nation.”
Former deputy minister in the now disbanded ministry Zizi Kodwa has been shifted to Deputy Minister in the Presidency, where he will be responsible for state security.
Sydney Mufamadi, the former Minister of Safety and Security and close ally of former President Thabo Mbeki, was appointed National Security Adviser.
However, Police Minister Bheki Cele, who also came in for much criticism, is to stay in his job.
Human settlements will be separated from water and sanitation into two ministries – under Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane and Senzo Mchunu respectively.
Khumbudzo Ntshavheni is the new communications and digital technologies minister, taking over from Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams, who has been demoted to Minister of Small Business Development.
Also demoted is Veteran Lindiwe Sisulu who is now tourism minister, while Mondli Gungubele is the new Minister in the Presidency.
Opposition leaders were not impressed by the changes.
Democratic Alliance leader John Steenhuisen welcomed the departure of health minister Zweli Mkhize but said the rest was “just a whole lot of the same, just dressed up in a different portfolio’s robes.
“It was a big missed opportunity to demonstrate a real commitment to accountability,” he said.
EFF leader Julius Malema described it as “a show of force by the CR17 faction. Nothing in the best interest of moving South Africa forward; as things change, they remain the same.”
The new line-up in full:
Minister in the Presidency: Mondli Gungubele
Minister of Communications & Digital Technologies: Khumbudzo Ntshavehni
Minister of Defence: Thandi Modise
Minister of Finance: Enoch Godongwana
Minister of Health: Joe Phaala
Minister of Human Settlements: Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane
Minister of Public Service & Administration: Ayanda Dlodlo
Minister of Small Business: Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams
Minister of Tourism: Lindiwe Sisulu
Minister of Water & Sanitation: Senzo Mchunu
Image source: @CyrilRamaphosa
