Cape Town – The ruling African National Congress has reportedly confirmed that issues regarding the looming Cabinet reshuffle will be “done and dusted” by end of February.
According to Daily Maverick, speaking at a media briefing at the ANC headquarters in Pretoria on Tuesday, ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula took a swipe at those who accused President Cyril Ramaphosa for “taking too long” to reshuffle his Cabinet, saying that his party had been busy with other matters.
There have been growing calls for Ramaphosa to reshuffle his cabinet, with the newly-elected ANC top seven saying that they will respect the president’s decision.
Mbalula last month shared his thoughts on the imminent cabinet reshuffle, saying there was need for a “government that is youthful”.
Times Live reported recently that Ramaphosa was expected to fire some ministers who were not voted into the new ANC national executive committee at the party’s 55th national conference in December last year and introduce newcomers.
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During the media briefing on Tuesday, Mbalula also touched on the issue of Paul Mashatile’s political future, saying it was the prerogative of Ramaphosato to appoint his deputy following his deputy David Mabuza’s intention to resign.
According to IOL, Mbalula said: “I briefed our caucus in Parliament about this, including the deputy president and that our deputy president must be considered for deployment in the (highest) office in the land.
“I briefed our caucus because you have been asking questions. The president has explained that the deputy president (Mabuza) has asked to step down. In this instance, the president asked that let’s do the transitional thing because there are a whole lot of things, when a person steps down, you consider.
“In this instance, our people, our structures have the expectation that Paul Mashatile will fill that vacancy. But that prerogative is the prerogative of the president. If the president were to come tomorrow and say something different, he will explain to the ANC why something different and not this way.”
Mashatile was sworn in as a Member of Parliament after he replaced Mabuza as ANC deputy president at the party’s national elective conference.
This was after Mabuza declined the nomination to contest for his position.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomnu
