Anxiety is growing in President Jacob Zuma’s Cabinet as talk of a reshuffle of government posts spreads. Although Zuma, in an interview with the Mail & Guardian this week, denied there would be a reshuffle, sources in the Cabinet believe some sort of re-arrangement could take place in the next few months to root out non-performers and to strengthen Zuma’s political base within the government.
Some provincial premiers and key advisers are also thought to be in the firing line.
First on the hit list are said to be Social Development Minister Edna Molewa and Sports Minister Makhenkesi Stofile, who are seen as relics of the Mbeki era and were included in Zuma’s Cabinet to show his commitment to ANC unity.
Molewa is also seen as being too close to ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe, who some senior party leaders are beginning to sideline because he is perceived to be a point man for the ANC’s left-wing allies. She also has a trade union background — she served in leadership positions in Cosatu and its commercial affiliate, Saccawu.
The M&G has also learned that her suspension of Fezile Makiwane, the chief executive of the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa), was frowned on by members of Zuma’s circle. Mandisi Mpahlwa, the presidential economic adviser, is also said to be under threat because of his union links.
Ayanda Dlodlo is said to be on the list because of non-performance as the president’s parliamentary counsellor.
The M&G understands that Stofile antagonised Zuma in a Cabinet meeting by disagreeing with him when he was asked about the absence of hype around the Fifa World Cup.
The minister of women, children and people with disabilities, Noluthando Mayende-Sibiya, is seen as being on the skids because of her dismal performance. The ANC Women’s League apparently lodged a complaint about her with Zuma.
The premier of North West province, Maureen Modiselle, is expected to get the boot because of her failure to unite the province after the disbanding of the provincial executive council last year.
A Cabinet minister told the M&G that the government was likely to be reshuffled before the World Cup but, because of concerns that it might affect the government’s image, it was decided that it would happen in August, after the World Cup but before the ANC’s national general council meeting.
In suspending Sassa’s Makiwane, Molewa appears to be on firm ground. He stands accused of having used R2,5-million from Sassa to throw a lavish party for Zuma in 2008 to thank the Nkandla community for supporting him, and R1.8-million for food parcels for the aged in Kwa-Nxamalala, Zuma’s birthplace.
Modiselle is apparently seen as having failed to “deal decisively” with deep party divisions in North West. She was a surprise appointment as premier, in which the ANC ignored the three names proposed by the former provincial executive committee.
“She is not in control of the province in any way. At the moment the provincial task team is running the show,” said a government source.
The M&G has learned from a well-placed source in the presidency that Zuma is considering strengthening his team of advisers, although he had not mentioned removing people from their jobs. “He is considering adding one or two people,” said the source.
Zuma’s spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, denied that the president was considering a reshuffle, calling it “pure speculation”.
“At the moment there are no compelling reasons against any of his ministers that will make him consider a Cabinet reshuffle.”
He said guidelines for measuring the performance of Cabinet ministers were in the final stages and they and the president would sign them soon. “Out of that process there is a realignment of clusters and coordinating mechanisms for the work of those clusters.”
Ministers would be given sufficient time to meet the targets in their delivery agreements before their performance is evaluated, said Magwenya.
“The aim is not to move towards punitive measures. It will be to identify blockages and unblock them,” he said.
Magwenya said that should Zuma consider a reshuffle, he would bear in mind the stability of government.
“It will be something that the president will most likely seek political advice on.”
But another government official said Zuma’s motive for a reshuffle was to consolidate his position at the coming council meeting in September in Durban.
“He has nothing to show for his time in government, so he wants to do this to demonstrate that he’s done something by removing people who are not performing,” said the source.