/ 9 July 2013

Opposition tackle, welcome Zuma’s Cabinet reshuffle

President Jacob Zuma.
President Jacob Zuma.

President Jacob Zuma's Cabinet reshuffle on Tuesday fell short of what people should expect, Agang South Africa leader Mamphela Ramphele said.

"President Zuma's fourth Cabinet reshuffle since 2009 fell far short of what the citizens of this nation should expect the president of the country to do if he is serious about fighting corruption.

"That is to come clean – as a matter of urgency – about the R270-million of the people's money that was spent on a palace for himself and his family at Nkandla," Ramphele said in a statement.

She said the people deserved an explanation, and a leader who was accountable for his actions.

It was also astounding that Zuma had showered the departing ministers with praise for what he called delivering a better life for all, she said.

Ramphele asked how axed minister of communications Dina Pule had contributed to a better life for South Africans.

"If such reshuffles are exercises at holding ministers accountable for their performance, why then is Public Enterprise Minister Malusi Gigaba still in office given the shambles at Medupi power station and looming blackouts?" Ramphele asked.

"The same could be said of Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga, under whose leadership the country scored second last in the world in maths and science."

Zuma's reshuffle
Zuma announced a Cabinet reshuffle axing three ministers, namely Dina Pule, who was the minister of communications, human settlements minister Tokyo Sexwale and cooperative governance and traditional affairs minister Richard Baloyi.

Pule was replaced by cooperative governance deputy minister Yunus Carrim, Sexwale was replaced by ANC MP Connie September, and Baloyi was replaced by cooperative governance and traditional affairs deputy minister Lechesa Tsenoli.

Transport minister Ben Martins became the new energy minister, swapping portfolios with Dipuo Peters.

Meanwhile on Tuesday, the South African Communist Party (SACP) welcomed the Cabinet reshuffle.

"We wish the newly-appointed members all the best in the implementation of the 2009 election manifesto commitments," said SACP spokesperson Malesela Maleka.

"Now that we are entering the final leg of the fourth [ANC]-led administration, focus must remain on consolidating the effectiveness of governance and meeting the needs of our people, majority of whom are working class and poor."

The SACP thanked the outgoing ministers and deputy ministers.

Maleka said the SACP particularly congratulated the central committee members appointed by Zuma in their own right as ANC members.

Nehawu's response
The new ministers appointed by Zuma on Tuesday must turn their departments around, the National Education, Health and Allied Workers' Union (Nehawu) said.

"The communications department needs to urgently sort out the myriad of problems that engulf the department, especially the governance problems surrounding the department and some of its institutions, like the SABC," Nehawu said in a statement.

The trade union said the communications, energy, human settlements and transport departments needed urgent intervention.

"The six months' delay in electricity delivery at the Medupi power station is a serious challenge that needs both the energy department and the public enterprises departments to work together to resolve."

The human settlements department still had to eradicate shacks and the transport department had e-tolling to sort out, it said.

"Minster Dipuo Peters has the unenviable task of resolving the issue of e-tolls in the province of Gauteng, and we hope she will listen to the workers and members of the community and do away with this expensive programme," the union said.

'Government's dismal service delivery'
Reacting to the reshuffle, the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) said the moves in Cabinet are a frank admission that it was not functioning at its best.

"We are hopeful that this Cabinet reshuffle will strengthen some of the non-performing departments, and improve government's dismal service delivery record," IFP chief whip Koos van der Merwe said in a statement.

IFP MP Liezl van der Merwe said the communications department had faced one crisis after another under Pule.

"Serious damage has been done by the persistent allegations of corruption, nepotism and cadre deployment.

"We are hopeful that new Minister Yunus Carrim will bring bold and stable leadership, which is urgently required to harness this department's development potential and put it back on the right track," she said.

The party wished all the new ministers and deputies the best in their new duties.

"We pledge our support and we hope that they will perform their tasks conscientiously, with passion and commitment to improving the lives of ordinary South Africans," Van der Merwe said. – Sapa