Social Development Minister Zola Skweyiya on Wednesday issued a statement explaining that he was resigning from parliamentary politics for health reasons.
However, an official who declined to be named, asserted that he was quitting for the same reason that the former deputy speaker, Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge, left. She was disappointed not to have been named by her party as speaker — the nod instead going to Max Sisulu, a former African National Congress (ANC) chief whip.
The official suggested that Skweyiya was disappointed by not being offered a ministry in Jacob Zuma’s new Cabinet.
Saying that he retired on Wednesday for reasons of health, Skweyiya said: “This is a decision I communicated to my movement, the African National Congress, in the past five years, and I reminded them sometime last year.”
He added: “I remain a committed servant of the ANC and I will perform any task assigned to me by the movement. I have faith in the staying power of the ANC.
“I would also like to thank civil society and faith-based organisations and the private sector for the support and the pivotal role they have played in improving the quality of life of those less fortunate.” — I-Net Bridge