Andy Duffy
One of the country’s most influential ambassadors has rejected an invitation to join Western Cape Premier Hernus Kriel’s provincial Cabinet.
Kriel, who is to reshuffle and expand his Cabinet in line with the province’s new Constitution, approached LT Links, South Africa’s ambassador to the European Union, to persuade him to take a seat in the provincial government.
It is understood Kriel wanted Links on board because of his high profile and because he believes Links would be popular among the province’s coloured voters. The two met in Cape Town in August.
But Links turned him down, saying he could not work for a National Party-led government, and that he enjoys his current job too much. Links is heading crucial negotiations in Brussels to secure better trade deals for South Africa in Europe. He is due to stay in Brussels until the year 2000.
“He [Kriel] was very interested in getting someone like myself,” Links says. “But I just had to turn it down. In the present National Party government in Cape Town it would be a very difficult job for me to take.
“I would not want to disappoint President Nelson Mandela in any case, given the confidence his government has put in me.”
Kriel’s office declines to comment on the offer, but it is understood the Nat chieftain is still some way from finalising his new Cabinet plans. A reshuffle is only expected early next year.
“He is looking at various options, and had preliminary talks with people, but it is premature even to hint at possible candidates,” a representative says.
The plans follow the decision by the Constitutional Court this week to finally approve Kriel’s provincial constitution, allowing him to expand his 10-strong Cabinet to 14.
The new Constitution also allows Kriel to oust four African National Congress MECs. The ANC opposed Kriel’s original Constitution proposals – a decision that prompted Kriel to insert a clause in the amended document scrapping the provincial unity government, under which the ANC got its four posts.
Kriel is prepared to retain two ANC MECs – Ebrahim Rasool at the Department of Health and Social Services, and either Economic Affairs and Reconstruction and Development MEC Chris Nissen or Transport and Public Works MEC Leonard Ramatlakane.
The ANC has previously said it wants all four posts retained, or none at all. But that position is softening, with ANC insiders conceding that the party will probably settle for two posts.
Minister of Justice Dullah Omar, the leader of the ANC in the Western Cape, says the issue has still to be discussed within the party. It is understood Omar has also held discussions with Kriel. “I never enter into talks on the basis of non- negotiables,” Omar says. “But he can’t play off one MEC against another.”
Kriel also wants to invite the Democratic Party (DP) and the African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) into the Cabinet. DP Western Cape leader Hennie Bester, tipped to join Kriel’s Cabinet, says the DP has still to receive a formal invite, and still to rule on whether joining Kriel’s line-up would make political sense. The expected ACDP representative, Mike Louis, is currently in the Bahamas on a Christian leadership crash course. The Freedom Front has indicated it does not want a Cabinet post.
Kriel is also looking at potential recruits among Nat MPs in the National Assembly. Nic Koornhof and Patrick McKenzie have emerged as favourites. Both say they have not been approached but both say they will serve wherever the party sends them.
Whether Kriel will use the reshuffle as an opportunity to shake up his NP MECs is moot. One option could be to put Gerald Morkel on to another portfolio, and for Kriel to take over responsibility for police services.