Cape Town – The leader of One South Africa Movement, Mmusi Maimane, has urged President Cyril Ramaphosa to look beyond the ruling African National Congress (ANC) when he reshuffles his cabinet.
“I really do not think the president ought to just only look within parliament itself. He is more than welcome to even look outside parliament.
“It would be ideal at this point to get in the health portfolio specialists who can come in and be able to drive the vaccination rollout process.
“We need an entire reset of our system and the president needs to look beyond just his party,” Maimane said during an interview with the television broadcasting channel Newzroom Afrika.
His remarks came after Ramaphosa last week hinted at a possible “Cabinet reconfiguration” amid calls for him to axe some ministers in order to “restore the nation’s trust”.
ALSO READ | Cyril Ramaphosa hints at possible Cabinet reshuffle after SA unrest
“I have said that clearly the deployment of people in various parts in government is a matter that occupies the mind of a president at all times. That is what I am applying my mind to.
“I know there is a lot of anxiety and impatience and it is a matter that is under consideration. What I would say is watch this space,” News24 quoted Ramaphosa as saying during his visit to vaccination sites in Thembisa and Midrand.
The president has been under pressure to fire some members of the cabinet, particularly the ministers in the security cluster following the recent unrest in parts of KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng.
Police Minister Bheki Cele, Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula and Minister of State Security Ayanda Dlodlo have been criticised by many over the way they handled the violence and looting that took place in the two provinces.
ALSO READ | #UnrestSA: ‘We could’ve done better but we were overwhelmed,’ says Ramaphosa
According to Times Live, Ramaphosa labelled the mayhem as an insurrection. However, Cele and Dlodlo contradicted each other on an intelligence report, while Mapisa-Nqakula told the country the unrest could not be described as an insurrection.
“From now on, the government is going to communicate with one voice… We have basically said, let’s stop the squabbling in public,” the report quoted Ramaphosa as saying.
A cloud also hung over suspended Health Minister Zweli Mkhize amid the Digital Vibes saga, EWN reported.
Ramaphosa admitted that the government was ill-prepared for the unrest.
“With the mayhem that broke out, the security cluster was ill-prepared. We have conceded that. I am also evaluating everything else and it’s best to leave it there,” Ramaphosa said.
ALSO READ | SA disorder culprits sought ‘popular insurrection’, says Ramaphosa
The recent riots cost 330 lives and caused R50 billion in damage to property and infrastructure.
The unrest followed protests triggered by the jailing of ex-president Jacob Zuma, who was handed a 15-month jail term for snubbing a corruption investigation.
Zuma, whose home province is KZN, commands support among loyalists in the ruling African National Congress (ANC), who portray him as a champion of the poor.
Mobs of people rampaged through shops and warehouses in KZN and Johannesburg in the worst violence since the end of apartheid.
Follow African Insider on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
Picture: Getty Images
For more African news, visit Africaninsider.com
Compiled by Betha Madhomu
