Cyril Ramaphosa’s victory in the race to lead South Africa’s governing party clears way for him to overhaul his cabinet and intensify reforms needed to reinvigorate the flagging economy.
With Ramaphosa’s second term as ANC president secured on Monday, party renewal talk hit fever pitch, alongside how the President’s government reform agenda has been bolstered. This all happening with a firm focus on the 2024 elections.
Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula has been elected as the party’s secretary-general, which is a full-time position at Luthuli House.
Speaking to the media following his election as the new SG, Mbalula said he would resign as transport minister as a result but did not give an indication when that would be.
With Mbalula expected to step down from his position, Ramaphosa will be left with the task of filling two big gaps in his cabinet, with the position of minister of public service and administration still sitting vacant after former minister Ayanda Dlodlo was appointed as an Executive Director on the board of the World Bank in Washington in the United States of America earlier this year.
Thulas Nxesi, minister of employment and labour has been serving as acting minister for the department since then.
Public Service and Administration and Transport are two very important departments and the positions cannot be left vacant for long.
While Ramaphosa has not given an indication of how he would go about his cabinet reshuffle, his victory at the ANC national conference will give him confidence to fire ministers who opposed him during his bid for a second term.
This includes Tourism minister Lindiwe Sisulu, who had her own political ambitions and aligned herself with the Zweli Mkhize faction and spoke against Ramaphosa and his leadership.
Minister of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma is another minister that has actively spoken against the president, and was the first person to break ranks when she went against the party line and voted in support with the section 89 report into Phala Phala.
Source: Business Tech, Bloomberg, Daily Maverick, image from Twitter: @Dieogochuene