Analysts agree that Dlamini-Zuma's appointment as an MP and a Cabinet member could favour her campaign.
Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma’s appointment to Parliament will most likely lead to a position for her in Cabinet, according to political analyst Dr Somadoda Fikeni. As rumours swirl that a Cabinet reshuffle is imminent, the presidential hopeful will be sworn into Parliament next week.
While speculators say Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande will be axed to make way for Dlamini-Zuma, Fikeni says the move would be risky. Unless the state is able to fund free education, Dlamin-Zuma may be set up for failure.
“The higher education portfolio is very difficult,” Fikeni said.
“But she won’t be a backbencher in Parliament; this will certainly lead to a Cabinet position.”
Dlamini-Zuma was previously appointed to Cabinet in 1994 where she served as health minister before later becoming African Union chairperson. Fikeni says that her return to Parliament will help her pay the bills at home, and also travel the country “under the guise” of doing parliamentary work while also campaigning to be the ANC’s successor.
“It’s well known that the AU pension isn’t handsome,” Fikeni said. “The income she earns from being an MP could help her pay the bills at home.”
Making NDZ presidential
Political analyst Ralph Mathekga said a reshuffle would be a risk given the previous outrage against the removal of former finance minister Pravin Gordhan earlier this year.
“The stakes are too high, Zuma’s got about three months to hit a home run with Dlamini-Zuma,” he said.
However, Mathekga agreed that Dlamini-Zuma’s appointment as an MP and a Cabinet member could favour her campaign.
“These are some of the moves that are trying to make Dlamini-Zuma appear more and more presidential,” he said.
Mathegka said it is unlikely Nzimande would be fired because the SACP would “wage war”, but the communist party says that it would not be against a reshuffle if it was fair.
“We will only welcome a reshuffle if it is based on a proper assessment of government work,” SACP spokesperson Mhlekwa Nxumalo told EWN.
ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe has meanwhile denied that Dlamin-Zuma will be sworn into Parliament because of her association with the president.
“We are not deploying her because she is a Zuma. We are deploying her because in the original list to Parliament, she was in the top 20. She is back now, when we adapt the list, we have to reverse her back [sic],” he told ANC members over the weekend.