Lungani Zungu
President Cyril Ramaphosa reshuffled his Cabinet on Thursday evening, and while some of the names of people who made the cut have been welcomed, others have raised eyebrows.
Among them was the newly-appointed Minister of Finance Enoch Godongwana and Deputy Minister of Health Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo.
Nine years ago, Godongwana resigned as Deputy Minister of Economic Development after his links to the scandal involving R100 million of textile workers’ money that was never paid back.
His family trust had a 50% interest in Canyon Springs, the company that lost the funds.
At the time, many thought this was the end of Godongwana’s decades-long political career.
A commission of inquiry into the saga found him and his wife to be liable.
But the ANC bigwig from the Eastern Cape made a political comeback after Ramaphosa appointed him as new finance minister, replacing Tito Mboweni, who resigned.
Godongwana defended himself after his swearing-in on Friday, saying he cleared his name over the R100 million saga a long time ago.
Ramaphosa also drew criticism for his appointment of Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo.
Dhlomo came under heavy scrutiny for failing to deal with the oncology crisis while he was still MEC for Health in KZN.
Many people died of cancer, especially at Addington and Inkosi Albert Luthuli hospitals.
In its 2018 report, the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) blamed Dhlomo for violating the rights of oncology patients.
The following year, the ANC in KZN deployed him to the National Assembly as calls grew for the party to sack him.
The position of deputy health minister was previously held by Dr Joe Phaahla, the newly appointed health minister.
Phaahla’s appointment was widely welcomed.
Dikeledi Magadzi, former MEC for Education in Limpopo, now Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation, also set many tongues wagging.
She caused a stir when she said she was not “MEC of toilets” after a six-year-old learner fell into a pit toilet and died in Limpopo three years ago.
Image source: @ThobelaniNcapai
