Cape Town – Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana has officially been sworn in as a member of parliament.
Godongwana was sworn in on Tuesday, replacing Mike Basopu, who recently resigned from the National Assembly.
The decision comes ahead of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s much-anticipated cabinet reshuffle.
By law, the president may select any number of ministers from among the members of the National Assembly; and may select no more than two ministers from outside the Assembly.
Minister of Finance #EnochGodongwana has been sworn in as a Member of Parliament which now opens up space for President Ramaphosa to appoint someone else in terms of Section 91 (3) as a Minister whose not a member of Parliament. #sabcnews pic.twitter.com/MTPbrGjQVT
— #LordOfTheMedia (@samkelemaseko) February 28, 2023
TimesLIVE reports that Ramaphosa wants Godongwana to become an MP in order to free up space for a non-MP to be appointed as minister of electricity.
“He [Godongwana] was not a MP but was appointed on the president’s prerogative. He frees up space for the appointment of the minister of electricity on the president’s prerogative,” a cabinet minister was quoted as saying.
“It creates a space for one person who is non-MP to be appointed to cabinet,” said another cabinet minister.
According to News24, the head of investment and infrastructure in the Presidency, Kgosientso Ramokgopa is speculated to be appointed minister of electricity.
Ramokgopa is not a member of parliament, and the move to swear Godongwana in as an MP is rumoured to have been made with the intention to place Ramokgopa in the position of minister of electricity, the report said.
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Compiled by Junaid Benjamin
