During his much-anticipated cabinet reshuffle, President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to appointed an electricity minister who is not an MP.
This comes as Ramaphosa is alleged to have requested that finance minister Enoch Godongwana be sworn in as an MP by the ANC in the Eastern Cape.
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Godongwana will be sworn in as an MP on Tuesday, according to ANC parliament chief whip Pemmy Majodina.
“Yes I can confirm but awaiting for a small process to finalise with EC [Eastern Cape],” said Majodina.
She also stated that the swearin-in would take place in person on Tuesday.
This action suggests that Ramaphosa will soon announce his cabinet reshuffle.
During his state of the nation address earlier this month, Ramaphosa announced that, in addition to declaring a state of disaster to cope with the energy crisis, he will appoint an electrical minister who will be based in Union Buildings office.
Nevertheless, despite the fact that the position was described as requiring immediate attention, little has changed since then.
Ramaphosa chose Godongwana as finance minister despite the fact that he is not a member of parliament, using his presidential prerogative, which permits him to choose three non-MPs to his executive.
Ramaphosa has however reached his quota on appointing non-MPs in his cabinet with Godongwana, Cogta deputy minister Thembi Nkadimeng and minister of trade and industry Ebrahim Patel.
According to two cabinet ministers, Ramaphosa wants Godongwana to become an MP to allow space for a non-MP to be appointed as minister of electricity.
“He [Godongwana] was not a MP but was appointed on the president’s prerogative. He frees up space for the appointment of the minister of electricity on the president’s prerogative,” a cabinet minister said.
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Another cabinet minister concurred: “It creates a space for one person who is non-MP to be appointed to cabinet.”
Notwithstanding the fact that this minister would not be a member of Parliament, the president is alleged to be investigating the recently elected ANC national executive committee.
There were rumours that Kgosientso Ramokgopa, the presidency’s chief of investment and infrastructure, was being considered for the role, but some insiders indicate he was not interested.
“Last time Sputla [Ramokgopa] was not keen given the work he is busy with on infrastructure,” a source said.
They insisted, however, that even if it was not Ramokgopa, the person was likely to come from the NEC or be a prominent member of the ANC.
Ramaphosa has indicated that he is prepared to replace his cabinet after consulting with the ANC’s alliance partners, the SACP and Cosatu, over the weekend.
On Monday, he also met with the ANC’s top seven, the party’s NEC national working committee, and his cabinet members.
It was unclear whether the idea of a reshuffle came up in any of the Monday talks, but an ANC senior leader confirmed the president was ready.
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“All boxes have been ticked. [A reshuffle] should happen any day or any time. If the [ANC] Free State list is done, to swap deputy secretary [Dibolelo Mahlatsi] with former premier [Sisi Ntombela] then all systems go,” the leader said.
The ANC this week signalled its impatience with Ramaphosa, saying the reshuffle should be “done and dusted” by the end of February.
If the president heeded the ANC’s call, the reshuffle would most likely take place on Tuesday.
There are two vacant ministries: public service and administration and power, and Fikile Mbalula, who was elected ANC secretary-general, must be replaced as transport minister.
Tourism minister Lindiwe Sisulu, co-operative governance and traditional affairs minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, women, youth, and persons with disabilities minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, and sports minister Nathi Mthethwa are among those expected to lose their jobs.
Mashatile is anticipated to take over as vice president following the resignation of David Mabuza.
Insiders say Maropene Ramokgopa, who was sworn in as an MP last month, is being considered for a ministerial position in the presidency, while Sihle Zikalala is seen as a likely replacement for Dlamini-Zuma.
Parks Tau is rumoured to be in line for the position of transport minister.
During his much-anticipated cabinet reshuffle, President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to appointed an electricity minister who is not an MP.
This comes as Ramaphosa is alleged to have requested that finance minister Enoch Godongwana be sworn in as an MP by the ANC in the Eastern Cape.
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Godongwana will be sworn in as an MP on Tuesday, according to ANC parliament chief whip Pemmy Majodina.
“Yes I can confirm but awaiting for a small process to finalise with EC [Eastern Cape],” said Majodina.
She also stated that the swearin-in would take place in person on Tuesday.
This action suggests that Ramaphosa will soon announce his cabinet reshuffle.
During his state of the nation address earlier this month, Ramaphosa announced that, in addition to declaring a state of disaster to cope with the energy crisis, he will appoint an electrical minister who will be based in Union Buildings office.
Nevertheless, despite the fact that the position was described as requiring immediate attention, little has changed since then.
Ramaphosa chose Godongwana as finance minister despite the fact that he is not a member of parliament, using his presidential prerogative, which permits him to choose three non-MPs to his executive.
Ramaphosa has however reached his quota on appointing non-MPs in his cabinet with Godongwana, Cogta deputy minister Thembi Nkadimeng and minister of trade and industry Ebrahim Patel.
According to two cabinet ministers, Ramaphosa wants Godongwana to become an MP to allow space for a non-MP to be appointed as minister of electricity.
“He [Godongwana] was not a MP but was appointed on the president’s prerogative. He frees up space for the appointment of the minister of electricity on the president’s prerogative,” a cabinet minister said.
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Another cabinet minister concurred: “It creates a space for one person who is non-MP to be appointed to cabinet.”
Notwithstanding the fact that this minister would not be a member of Parliament, the president is alleged to be investigating the recently elected ANC national executive committee.
There were rumours that Kgosientso Ramokgopa, the presidency’s chief of investment and infrastructure, was being considered for the role, but some insiders indicate he was not interested.
“Last time Sputla [Ramokgopa] was not keen given the work he is busy with on infrastructure,” a source said.
They insisted, however, that even if it was not Ramokgopa, the person was likely to come from the NEC or be a prominent member of the ANC.
Ramaphosa has indicated that he is prepared to replace his cabinet after consulting with the ANC’s alliance partners, the SACP and Cosatu, over the weekend.
On Monday, he also met with the ANC’s top seven, the party’s NEC national working committee, and his cabinet members.
It was unclear whether the idea of a reshuffle came up in any of the Monday talks, but an ANC senior leader confirmed the president was ready.
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“All boxes have been ticked. [A reshuffle] should happen any day or any time. If the [ANC] Free State list is done, to swap deputy secretary [Dibolelo Mahlatsi] with former premier [Sisi Ntombela] then all systems go,” the leader said.
The ANC this week signalled its impatience with Ramaphosa, saying the reshuffle should be “done and dusted” by the end of February.
If the president heeded the ANC’s call, the reshuffle would most likely take place on Tuesday.
There are two vacant ministries: public service and administration and power, and Fikile Mbalula, who was elected ANC secretary-general, must be replaced as transport minister.
Tourism minister Lindiwe Sisulu, co-operative governance and traditional affairs minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, women, youth, and persons with disabilities minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, and sports minister Nathi Mthethwa are among those expected to lose their jobs.
Mashatile is anticipated to take over as vice president following the resignation of David Mabuza.
Insiders say Maropene Ramokgopa, who was sworn in as an MP last month, is being considered for a ministerial position in the presidency, while Sihle Zikalala is seen as a likely replacement for Dlamini-Zuma.
Parks Tau is rumoured to be in line for the position of transport minister.