President Cyril Ramaphosa has a mammoth task to incorporate the political parties in the newly formed Government of National Unity (GNU) in his Cabinet following the ANC’ s poor performance at the recent polls.
The presidency has confirmed that Ramaphosa will engage in high-level consultations with senior ANC officials, alliance partners and signatories of the GNU to incorporate voices from across the political spectrum before he finalise his Cabinet.
There have been speculations that the already bloated Cabinet could be expanded as the President is under pressure to return the favour to the GNU members.
For the first time in South Africa, no party was given a mandate to lead after the elections forcing the African National Congress (ANC) to invite other political parties to form GNU.
The Seventh Administration will be represented by 18 parties. No independent candidate will be represented.
The ANC got 40.18% (159 seats) in 2024 compared to 57. 50% (230 seats) in 2019.
Five parties which have officially signed the Statement of Intent to participate in the GNU with the ANC are Democratic Alliance (DA), Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), GOOD, and the Patriotic Alliance (PA).
This collective represents 68% (273 seats) in the National Assembly.
Voice On The Move Radio spoke to a few listeners to hear their views on which ministers they think should be replaced by President Ramaphosa in the Seventh Administration.
Long serving Ministers Bheki Cele, Dr Naledi Pandor, Thandi Modise and Thulasizwe Nxesi will not be returning to Parliament.
Queen Malunga from Durban, in Clairmont said the Minister of Basic Education Angie Motshekga, one of the long serving ministers in the National Assembly should be replaced. She said Minister Motshekga has failed in bringing innovation and the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) in schools.
Fikile Ndlovu from Gauteng in Kampton Park told VM Radio that the ANC needs to have a five year roadmap and annual performance contracts for its ministers.
Currently she said the 5 year road map and Annual Performance Contracts only apply to Director Generals (DG’s).
“Now we are evaluating performance of ministers based on public opinion not in tangible results. Let’s have performance contract that are public knowledge, so that we become objective in our assessments,” said Ndlovu.
She is hoping to see the ANC deploying ministers in relation to their educational background.
” I would like Dr Aaron Motswaledi to go back to Health. Let’s get someone to replace Minister of Public Entreprice. Minister of Electricity Dr Kgosientsho Ramokopa should go to public enterprise. Pravin you have served us, retire now chief,” she said.
Sheila Barradas also in Gauteng said all of the ministers should go and added that if they insist on staying, they should reapply for the positions.
” How can you have somebody who has never worked a day in the water sector being the minister of water and sanitation? If you are going to put them in that position at least make sure they worked as a plumber or something,” explained Barradas.
She added that government appoints people who make policies based on their ideologies not what really is going on the ground which she said is costing people in big ways with no water, no electricity amd no police force.
A staunch MK supporter from Durban in Clairmont, Thabani Khoza said Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe should be shown the door as he is not performing in his ministry. He said corruption is rife in his department.
He reminded VM Radio that Gwede was also implicated in the state capture corruption as Bosasa even installed cameras in his home.
“I don’t believe in the GNU. It will not work as the parties which garnered many votes are excluded in the GNU. Ramaphosa should answer as to who gave him the mandate to incorporate the DA, explained Khoza.
He believes that the decision to incorporate the DA was not a collective mandate “as we already see that the DA wants to call the shots”.