The cabinet reshuffle last week was welcome news to many as President Cyril Ramaphosa made changes to his cabinet that included replacing health minister Zweli Mkhize, defence minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula and notably finance minister Tito Mboweni. For Mkhize and Mboweni’s part, they both resigned before the changes were made.
There have been calls from within the ANC for Mboweni to be replaced while Mkhize remains embroiled in the Digital Vibes scandal.
But political commentator Justice Malala believes the president has been blown off course and is playing too much into the radical economic transformation (RET) factions’ hands with the latest reshuffle.
“Ramaphosa acts only in defence, He does not take bold, direct action in pursuit of his dreams. It almost seems as if he has no vision or plan. The tragedy of last week’s cabinet reshuffle is that it is not part of Ramaphosa’s renewal programme. Instead, it is a response to events,” writes Malala in the Sunday Times Daily.
Political analyst Ralph Mathekga thinks that the reshuffle might show that Ramaphosa is including more of his allies in the cabinet, but the president continues to play it both ways.
He writes in News24: “The president was able to show that he will take charge and when the situation dictates. This was evident in the removal of Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula and by placing the State Security Agency under the Presidency as a new configuration of the bureaucracy.”
Mathekga contends that while the president was strong on state security matters, he had to give in to the internal ANC battles as the party “politics continue to weigh heavily on efforts to move forward and get the country on a better trajectory.” (For subscribers)
Here’s a roundup of the most interesting opinions and analyses:
Those who fanned the flames that cost SA R50bn must be seen to pay – Busi Mavuso, Fin24 (For subscribers)
Old or young, if they ain’t got talent, they ain’t gonna perform – Tom Eaton, Sunday Times Daily
Forget the concept of public-private-pension partnerships – Allan Greenblo, Financial Mail
What Africa must do to be a leader in technology and innovation – Ndagi Job Goshi, Business Day
South Africa has lots in common with the ‘shoot yourself in the foot’ countries – Tim Cohen, Daily Maverick
There’s a compelling reason for Africa to start building its own vehicles – Mike Whitfield, The Citizen (For subscribers)
Bailout rules for South Africa’s state-owned enterprises may be a prelude to full privatisation – Mfuneko Toyana, Daily Maverick
