News24’s Friday Briefing raises some interesting questions around Cyril Ramaphosa’s recent moves to bring private sector heavyweights into government, thereby circumventing his cabinet and perhaps creating the basis for a parallel cabinet to form.
During his State of the Nation Address (SONA) last week, Ramaphosa said he would be bringing Sipho Nkosi and Daniel Mmimele, both successful private sector businessmen, into the fold to help with government’s business.
As News24 points out, some commentators see this as a move that indicates the president has little faith in the current cabinet to sort out the issues on the table while others have cited previous precedent and see nothing wrong with a little outside help.
But while the president may be the head of state, he isn’t an emperor or a monarch, there is oversight in place to keep a president in check such as that of parliament. While the South African president does have many more executive powers that other heads of state don’t enjoy, it is still important for the president to consult with his cabinet and seek approval for his decisions.
Ramaphosa allayed concerns that he had lost faith in his cabinet when he had his chance to reply to opposition parties during the debate on SONA this week.
He said, “I preside over a Cabinet of ministers that are committed to their responsibilities, ministers in whom I have the greatest of confidence as president.”
Qaanitah Hunter writes that the decision to bring outsiders in could cause more harm than what Jacob Zuma’s allies did for the former president. Tinyiko Maluleke says there is nothing wrong with seeking a little outside help while Dirk Kotzé says former president Thabo Mbeki did the same thing during his tenure.
All the stories are for subscribers.
Meanwhile, Rebone Tau writes, former presidents Mbeki and Zuma must sit down and have a discussion about the brutal presidential election battle the two had in Polokwane in 2007 as it is the root cause of the ANC’s division and is the only possible way for the party to somehow reunite its factions.
“Will the comeback of former president Thabo Mbeki yield any results in the process of unifying the ANC? One can say that, technically, he was in exile during the era of former president Jacob Zuma, as he was not seen at any ANC meetings after the party’s 52nd conference and his recall in September 2008.”
Here’s a roundup of interesting opinions, analyses, and editorials:
Lost Zuma decade may yet yield accountability and opportunity – Daily Maverick
PATRICK BULGER | How Ramaphosa moved the ANC’s heaven and earth – Sunday Times Daily (for subscribers)
Ahmed Areff | Do the rich just have lots of money because they can spend less? – Fin24 (for subscribers)
EDITORIAL: Sometimes courts must rule on the auditor-general’s findings – Business Day
ALUN FROST: Acsa investments in foreign airports fly between folly and wisdom – Business Day
JAMIE CARR: ArcelorMittal SA shows some steel — at last – Financial Mail (for subscribers)
From cancel culture to dreaming together – New Frame
Image: GCIS
