New deputy president Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka was sworn into office at Parliament on Thursday along with the new minister of minerals and energy and two deputy trade and industry ministers.
Chief Justice Pius Langa administered the oath at Tuynhuys to Mlambo-Ngcuka, minerals and energy minister Lindiwe Hendricks, and deputy trade and industry ministers Rob Davies and Elizabeth Thabethe.
Mlambo-Ngcuka said she was still ”clearly in shock” but very grateful for President Thabo Mbeki’s vote of confidence in her.
She cut short a visit to the United States to attend her swearing-in.
Skirting any questions on her alleged involvement in the oil saga, the new deputy president asked for a ”honeymoon period” before dealing with the press.
She said she would take over the tasks of the previous office bearer which include managing the second economy, HIV/Aids and ”other duties as the president sees fit”.
She was then ushered out of the ceremony attended by a gaggle of ministers, refusing to answer any further questions.
Mlambo-Ngcuka was allegedly reluctant to accept her new post because of concerns relating to her brother’s (Bongani) alleged involvement in the Oilgate saga and her husband’s (former Director of National Prosecuting Authority Bulelani Ngcuka) role in the downfall of her predecessor Jacob Zuma.
While attending the ceremony, her husband refused to comment on anything even concerning how proud he was of his wife.
”Not now, maybe later,” he said with a smile.
Finance Minister Trevor Manuel, who was named as a contender for the post, angrily accused journalists of trying to fix the mistakes they had created by asking him for comment.
On the question of how he felt, he warned ”don’t even go there” but admitted her appointment was good for the economy.
Mbeki said all who had been appointed were very hard working and were seen as ”very important additions to the executive”.
”What is a loss to Parliament is a gain to the executive.”
Davies, who was the chairperson of the National Assembly’s Finance Committee until Wednesday morning, said he could still not believe he was now a deputy minister.
Accompanied by his son Matthew (12) he said he had no idea of what lay in store for him until he was summoned by Mbeki.
He and the others were informed of the president’s decision at 10am on Wednesday.
”The Department of Trade and Industry is a very large department but I think our role will be to focus on international trade and the second economy,” he said.
Thabethe said she would concentrate on stepping up interdepartmental cooperation.
Speaking at a media briefing earlier on Thursday, ANC Chief Whip Mbulelo Goniwe told journalists the new deputy president and ministers had received a ”rousing welcome” on their arrival at the party’s caucus meeting that morning.
He said Mbeki had made some ”very telling revelations” at the meeting about the ANC ”living up to the expectations” of South Africans.
”The prestige with which the world views the ANC has no equal.”
He said it was now a ”huge challenge” to ANC members not to betray this confidence. – Sapa