Barring ‘albatross Mabuza’ VF Plus welcomes Ramaphosa’s Cabinet

Political reactions to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Cabinet selection have been trickling in and the latest opposition party to voice it’s opinion is the Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus).

Since the party surprised everyone at the polls with a commendable performance, garnering a record 2.38% of the votes, a lot more people have turned their ears to hear what they have to say.

Related: Ramaphosa announces his Cabinet: Here’s the complete list of ministers

VF Plus reacts to Ramaphosa’s Cabinet selection

VF Plus’ leader, Dr Pieter Groenewald issued a statement in reaction to the Cabinet announcement, and barring a few issues, the party stated that it is satisfied with the selections Ramaphosa made.

The return of David Mabuza

Groenewald noted, with concern, that David Mabuza’s return to the Deputy President position may have been an ill-timed move for the president. For the opposition leader, his alleged links to corruption may have a negative effect on the country’s ability to attract foreign investment.

“The negative is the continued presence of deputy president David Mabuza who hangs around the president’s neck like an albatross. It is, in a nutshell, the FF Plus’ view of the cabinet that President Cyril Ramaphosa announced tonight,” Groenewald wrote.

Related: Julius Malema blasts Ramaphosa’s ‘bloated Cabinet of crooks’

The anointing of De Lille and return of Gordhan-Mboweni

Much of his observations were weighed against the country’s overall ability to attract investment and regurgitate a sinking economy.

The opposition leader approved of the surprise appointment of Patricia de Lille as the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure.

He also gave the return of Tito Mboweni and Pravin Gordhan to their respective portfolios a nod, stating that it shows confidence to the outside world looking in.

“Their presence will send out positive signals to potential investors and rating agencies on investor opportunities in South Africa. How successful this message will be is in the hands of the relevant ministers,” he added.

Cabinet size and Deputy Ministers

Groenewald also touched on the debacle around the reduced Cabinet. Although this was welcomed by the party, they still felt as though Ramaphosa could have done better to come below former president Thabo Mbeki’s 26-member executive council of 2004

Related: “You can’t fool South Africa” – DA reacts to Cabinet selection

“As for deputy ministers, the situation is virtually unchanged. In the previous term, there were 35 deputy ministers and this was reduced by only one to 34. So there are now six more deputy ministers as ministers, as in some ministries two deputies were placed,” he said.

The overall reaction from the VF Plus was a thumbs up, barring a few issues that even Ramaphosa could do little about.