/ 30 May 2014

Three former Cabinet ministers resign from Parliament

Three Former Cabinet Ministers Resign From Parliament
The number of deputy ministers has increased from 14 under Mandela to 34 under Ramaphosa.

Three more ANC members of Parliament have resigned, the office of the ANC chief whip confirmed on Friday.

Former minister of correctional services S’bu Ndebele, former minister of women, children and persons with disabilities Lulu Xingwana and former deputy minister of social development Maria Ntuli resigned in the same week President Jacob Zuma announced his new Cabinet.

According to spokesperson for the chief whip Moloto Mothapo, no reasons for resignation were provided in any of their letters and it is effective immediately. 

The resignations follow former National Assembly speaker Max SisuluTito MboweniZizi Kodwa and former tourism minister Martinus van Schalkwyk in the past few days. Kodwa stood down after being appointed the ANC’s national spokesperson.

Mothapo said the office of the chief whip thanked the MPs for their “diligent service”.

Sisulu announced his resignation from Parliament on Thursday, which many think was unsurprising, after the ANC did not re-elect him as speaker. ANC national chairperson Baleke Mbete was chosen instead.

ANC national executive committee (NEC) member Tito Mboweni declined his seat in Parliament ahead of the swearing-in, saying he wanted to focus more on “economic transformation” in the private sector.

Van Schalkwyk announced his abrupt resignation after a 10-year stint a day after President Jacob Zuma left him out of his new Cabinet.