JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – JANUARY 18: Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa and Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba during a pre-World Economic Forum (WEF) breakfast briefing on January 18, 2018 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Ramaphosa, who will be accompanied by Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba at the WEF in Davos, said Team SA is hoping to woo investors with the message that South Africa is serious about rooting out corruption, and that renewal is taking place in the country. (Photo by Gallo Images / Sunday Times / Moeletsi Mabe)
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – JANUARY 18: Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa and Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba during a pre-World Economic Forum (WEF) breakfast briefing on January 18, 2018 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Ramaphosa, who will be accompanied by Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba at the WEF in Davos, said Team SA is hoping to woo investors with the message that South Africa is serious about rooting out corruption, and that renewal is taking place in the country. (Photo by Gallo Images / Sunday Times / Moeletsi Mabe)
The time has come for Cyril Ramaphosa to rearrange the furniture once more. The president will announce a cabinet reshuffle at 15:00 on Thursday, as he looks to plug the gaps in his inner circle.
It will be the second time Ramaphosa has shuffled his deck within nine months of assuming the presidency. You’ll have to forgive us on this one, Mr President, but a reshuffle at such a sociable hour is alien to us South Africans.
Far from being one of Jacob Zuma’s midnight specials, we’ve got a semblance of coherence awaiting us. But what positions need to be filled, and which cabinet members are at risk of an ousting? That’s what we’re here to find out.
Cabinet Reshuffle: Positions that need filling
Minister of Environmental Affairs
Edna Molewa sadly passed away in September 2018, leaving her ministerial position vacant. The ANC stalwart was a well-respected figure in the party’s top brass and has served as the only member of this department since its inception in 2010.
Buyelwa Sonjica was her predecessor, back when the role was known as “Water and Environmental Affairs”. Whoever is nominated to the position will take home an annual salary of R1.8 million.
Minister of Home Affairs
Malusi Gigaba left in a storm of infamy and controversy earlier this month, as the scandals piled up in both his professional and personal life.
Gigaba has now been a major talking point in the last three cabinet reshuffles, making headlines as Zuma’s pick for finance minister (2017) before returning to home affairs in March 2018. The minister replacing Gigabyte will take home R2.2 million a year.
Previous incumbents include Hlengiwe Mkhize and Naledi Pandor, the current higher education minister. Pandor has fulfilled many roles in the ANC government and is one of Cyril Ramaphosa’s most able deputies. Don’t be surprised if her hat gets thrown into the ring for this one.
What ministers could lose their jobs?
Bathabile Dlamini is under enormous pressure. Not only are the DA pushing for her removal in the courts, but she’s walking a tightrope after details of her disastrous reign at SASSA emerged earlier in the year.
Still seen as a relic of the Zuma regime, the current minister for women will be keeping one very anxious eye on proceedings from the Union Buildings this afternoon. Nomvula Mokonyane may also be feeling the heat, as the water affairs and sanitation minister is accused of receiving a kickback from the Bosasa group.
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