Cape Town – Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Ebrahim Patel, was sworn in and a Member of Parliament on Monday, ahead of the much anticipated Cabinet reshuffle announcement by President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Ramaphosa is expected to fill vacant positions in his executive, including that of deputy president at 19:00 on Monday. This was confirmed by presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya on Sunday.
Parliamentary spokesperson Moloto Mothapo said Patel was “amongst two ministers selected by the president from outside the Assembly in terms of the Constitution”.
Minister of Trade & Industry Ebrahim Patel was this morning sworn in, through a virtual platform, as Member of Parliament by Speaker of the National Assembly. Mr Patel was amongst two Ministers selected by the President from outside the Assembly in terms of the Constitution. pic.twitter.com/TJhdH7CQ16
— Moloto Mothapo (@MolotoMothapo) March 6, 2023
He was sworn in through a virtual platform as an MP of the National Assembly.
Under SA law, the president can name two people who are not MPs to his cabinet. Those positions were occupied by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana, who was made an MP last week, and Patel.
Ramaphosa is expected to name a new deputy president after David Mabuza resigned from the post on Wednesday. The new position of electricity minister is also among the roles to be filled.
The president announced plans to appoint a minister of electricity during his State of the Nation Address (SONA) last month.
The minister will oversee all aspects of the electricity crisis response, including the work of the National Energy Crisis Committee.
Follow African Insider on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
Picture: Twitter /@PresidencyZA
For more African news, visit Africaninsider.com
Compiled by Betha Madhomu
