Cape Town — Embattled Minister of Justice, Thembi Simelane, has been given a lifeline by President Cyril Ramaphosa following his first cabinet reshuffle under the Government of National Unity (GNU).
Ramaphosa exercised his executive authority to announce changes to his national executive, which he described as “ensuring the effectiveness of cabinet in delivering its mandates”, a statement said.
He announced four changes to his cabinet.
Simelane has moved from her role as Minister of Justice to Minister of Human Settlements, switching roles with Mmamoloko Kubayi. There were also changes made to the deputies.
Phumzile Mgcina moved from Deputy Minister of Labour and Employment to Deputy Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, switching roles with Judith Nemadzinga-Tshabalala.
“The changes to the national executive are effective immediately. I would like to wish these members of the national executive well in their new positions,” Ramaphosa said.
[BREAKING NEWS] President Cyril Ramaphosa moves Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Thembi Simelane to Human Settlement. Human Settlement Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi moves to Justice and Constitutional Development.#Newzroom405 pic.twitter.com/uiyfj2eBZb
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) December 3, 2024
Opposition parties have not welcomed his decision with open arms as ActionSA has labelled the move as ‘cowardly’.
ActionSA MP, Athol Trollip, said Ramaphosa’s failure to suspend Simelane has morphed into a reshuffle and defeated the concept of accountability, meaning Simelane should no longer be allowed to serve in Cabinet.
“Simply put, if the Minister was deemed no longer fit to serve as Minister of Justice due to allegations of potential corruption and questionable sources of wealth beyond her declared earnings, then surely the President cannot now expect us to believe that she is perfectly suited to lead a critically important portfolio like Human Settlements, overseeing billions of rands,” Trollip said.
He said Ramaphosa lacks the appetite and fortitude to break down the culture of unaccountability that plagues South Africa and ActionSA will not accept his efforts to shield Simelane from facing accountability.
[WATCH] ActionSA parliamentary leader Athol Trollip says President Cyril Ramaphosa has erred by moving Justice and Constitutional Minister Thembi Simelane to the Department of Human Settlements. Trollip says Simelane proved that she couldn’t deal with the finances of a… pic.twitter.com/TvMhLRq358
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) December 3, 2024
The Democratic Alliance (DA) have also criticised Ramaphosa for his ‘disrespectful’ decision to reshuffle Simelane as the DA’s Glynnis Breytenbach said: “Simelane does not belong in Cabinet, end of story.”
Breytenbach echoed Trollips’s sentiments and said his decision to move her to another department has not addressed the underlying issues of corruption.
“Human Settlements is a vital department for providing housing to South Africans. It must be led by a credible individual. The indecisiveness of the President, who has explicitly committed to fighting corruption is especially shocking and quite blatantly insincere,” she said.
Mister President, our country deserves better. Remove Simelane from your Cabinet in the interest of our Republic.
[WATCH] The DA says President Cyril Ramaphosa has failed to demonstrate to South Africans that he’s seriously against corruption. DA spokesperson Karabo Khakhau had the party been consulted, as members of the GNU, about Simelane’s reshuffling, they would have told the president… pic.twitter.com/bhoeeEpG7m
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) December 3, 2024
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Compiled by Matthew Petersen
