South Africa's new National Executive pledges to serve the people

Cabinet reshuffle: Here’s EVERY change made by Ramaphosa Photos: Twitter/Presidency

Cabinet reshuffle: EFF accuses Ramaphosa of repaying political debts with positions

The EFF criticised Ramaphosa’s appointment and retention of several cabinet ministers, calling them ‘verified failures.’

South Africa's new National Executive pledges to serve the people

Cabinet reshuffle: Here’s EVERY change made by Ramaphosa Photos: Twitter/Presidency

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) reacted to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s new-look cabinet on Tuesday, 7 March. The opposition party criticised the president’s choices and accused him of using positions in his executive to repay political debts.

EFF CRITICISES RAMAPHOSA’S NEW-LOOK CABINET

The EFF offered various reasons for why it thinks Khumbudzo Ntshaveni (Minister in the Presidency), Mondli Gugunbele (Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies) and Kgosientsho Ramakgopa (the new Minister of Electricity) are not fit for purpose.

Gungunbele and Gugunbele swapped portfolios in Monday’s cabinet reshuffle, while Ramakgopa, a former Mayor of Tshwane, is a new appointment.

“The cabinet reshuffle confirmed that Ramaphosa’s Presidency is one where mediocrity is encouraged and awarded, and there is nothing that will change in the lives of South Africans,” said the EFF.

The party also criticised Ramaphosa for leaving Police Minister Bheki Cele and Labour Minister Thulas Nxesi untouched despite rampant crime and unemployment in South Africa. Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande was slammed for presiding over almost a decade of protests from students demanding more access to higher education. “All these individuals are verified failures, yet they are retained as Ministers.”

“Ramaphosa has betrayed his own commitment of cutting down cabinet to spare the coffers of South Africa from paying for the lifestyles of useless Ministers and Deputy Ministers,” said the EFF.

PRESIDENT PROMISES TO CUT DOWN CABINET GOING INTO NEXT ADMINISTRATION

In his cabinet reshuffle, Ramaphosa introduced two more ministers in the Presidency – Electricity and Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation – adding more portfolios to an already bloated cabinet.

He stressed that the Electricity Minister was a temporary position that would be done away with as soon as the country was out of the load shedding crisis.

Ramaphosa said he had instructed the Presidency and National Treasury to come up with a proposal to rationalise government departments, entities and programmes to improve efficiency and cut down on the number of portfolios.

“This work, which will result in the reduction of the number of Ministries, will inform the configuration of government going into the next administration,” he said.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ARTICLES BY STORM SIMPSON

READ: