Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services, Dr Siyabonga Cwele with Ethekwini Executive Mayor Ms Zandile Gumede during the official opening the 2017 SITA GOVTECH conference held at Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre in Durban. 30/10/2017, Elmond Jiyane, GCIS
Siyabonga Cwele joins bandwagon as sixth ANC MP to leave Parliament
The list of ANC MP’s on their way out of Parliament gets longer by the day.
Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services, Dr Siyabonga Cwele with Ethekwini Executive Mayor Ms Zandile Gumede during the official opening the 2017 SITA GOVTECH conference held at Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre in Durban. 30/10/2017, Elmond Jiyane, GCIS
Former Minister of Home Affairs, Siyabonga Cwele has joined the exodus of ANC Members of Parliament that have tendered their resignation from the National Assembly.
As reported by eNCA, Cwele’s exit was followed by former Minister of Energy, Jeff Radebe’s official confirmation of his intent to vacate his seat in Parliament after both members were not included in President Cyril Ramaphosa’s refurbished Cabinet.
Related: Jeff Radebe: South Africa’s longest serving minister says farewell
The reason behind Siyabonga Cwele resignation?
As in the case of four other ANC members that have resigned, no reason for his departure was furnished.
Last week, it was announced that former Minister of Social Development, Susan Shabangu, Nomaindia Mfeketo who is the former Minister of Human Settlements, Dipuo Letsatsi-Duba, the former Minister of State Security and Tokozile Xasa, the former Minister of Sport and Recreation, had all filed their resignations with immediate effect.
Related: Another ANC MP bites the dust: Tokozile Xasa resigns from Parliament
It is believed that this apparent exodus has, in large part, got to do with the recent special NEC meeting that took place about the contents of the party’s integrity committee report.
More ANC members expected to resign
During the swearing-in of MPs, the party’s integrity committee had identified 23 members in its report as being guilty of placing the image of the ANC in disrepute.
However, according to a source close to Ace Magashule, the party’s secretary-general, none of the six officials who’ve resigned has been included in the controversial report that has caused more divisions within the party.
Related: ANC top brass call for the disbandment of the integrity committee
Instead, the insider told Sunday Times that these resignations are motivated by personal gain more than anything else.
“People are going to resign [from Parliament] but for other reasons [for pensions, redeployment and factions], not because the integrity committee said they must resign,” the anonymous source said.
It seems very likely that this is not the last resignation we have seen.
According to the ANC Chief Whip, Pemmy Majodina, replacements will be made when new MPs are sworn in, in the week of Monday, 10 June.
“Comrade Xasa will be replaced by comrade Judy Hermans on the national-to-national list, while comrade Makhosini Nkosi was replaced by comrade Lindiwe Mjobo on the province-to-province list of KwaZulu-Natal.
“Comrade Hermans will therefore still be sworn in on Monday with the rest of the other comrades who are scheduled to take up seats in the National Assembly,” she revealed.
