Cape Town – The Cabinet has defended President Cyril Ramaphosa’s recent reshuffle amidst widespread criticism.
Human Settlements Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi was this week reassigned to the Justice and Constitutional Development portfolio, replacing Thembi Simelane, who now takes over Kubayi’s previous role.
Speaking during a media briefing at Parliament on Thursday, Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said that ministerial appointments and movements were solely the president’s prerogative, with no Cabinet discussions on the matter.
Minister in the The Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni briefs media on the outcomes of the cabinet meeting. #GovZAUpdates #PostCabinet https://t.co/8rf5s16w7Y
— South African Government (@GovernmentZA) December 5, 2024
“The appointment, disappointment, and removal and shifting and movement of ministers is the sole prerogative of the President and I can’t provide answers to it. It’s not Cabinet’s answers, we don’t discuss it. You are either called and informed, and that is the discussion between the Minister and the President,” the minister said.
Ramaphosa exercised his executive authority to announce the changes to his national executive, which he described as “ensuring the effectiveness of cabinet in delivering its mandates”, a statement said.
“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,” the president said.
Opposition parties have, however, Ramaphosa’s decision, with ActionSA describing it as a “cowardly” move.
ActionSA MP Athol Trollip argued that the president’s decision to reshuffle instead of suspending Simelane undermined accountability, asserting that Simelane should no longer hold a position 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.
[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
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