Why Cyril Ramaphosa has delayed his cabinet announcement

This article has been updated from a previous version which claimed the cabinet announcement would be made on Thursday. This was an oversight on our part, and we apologise for any inconvenience caused. We have since amended the piece to explain the delay in proceedings.

The suspense has grown to an immense size over the past few days, as South Africans continue their wait to find out who exactly will be governing this country. Three weeks after Election Day, we are still none the wiser as to who will occupy a space in Cyril Ramaphosa’s cabinet. But that’s all about to change…

Pule Mabe teases South Africans, as Cyril follows suit

Earlier on Wednesday, the ANC Spokesperson Pule Mabe revealed that a cabinet announcement would be coming “very soon”, in a video that was uploaded, deleted, and then reuploaded to his Twitter feed. His “should I, shouldn’t I” approach to social media mirrors the actions of President Ramaphosa right now.

The head of state still seems to be mulling over some fiercely-tough decisions. The future of David Mabuza seems sealed, as he plots a return to the deputy presidency. But it is the likes of Pravin Gordhan and Bathabile Dlamini who face a more uncertain destiny, as both have a real chance of being ejected from Cyril’s inner circle.

Soon is Soon… pic.twitter.com/bw0SXFLOLC

— PULE MABE (@pulemabe) May 29, 2019

When will the ANC announce their cabinet, and why was it delayed?

In the brief clip, Pule Mabe promises that the new government will be up and running “before South Africans attend church on Sunday”. However, you can get rid of the bashful semantics: We now know that the cabinet announcement was scheduled to take place at 20:00 on Wednesday 29 May.

JUST IN: CABINET ANNOUNCEMENT

President Cyril Ramaphosa will today, Wednesday, 29 May 2019, address the nation on the composition of the national executive from the Union Buildings in TSHWANE at 20:00
#sabcnews

— Chriselda Lewis ™️ (@Chriseldalewis) May 29, 2019

But as we all took our seats at 20:00, the news filtered through that Ramaphosa would not be making his cabinet announcement on time. Things have got very 2017 in here…

The official reason for the delay is thought to be down to some last-minute meetings. It’s understood Cyril was still in discussions with some of his prospective appointees before making the final decision to green-light their seats at the top table. It hasn’t yet been confirmed who those ministers are. As of 20:30 on Wednesday, the president had not begun his speech.

The Cabinet announcement has been delayed because President Cyril Ramaphosa is individually meeting his appointees. It was scheduled to start at 8pm. @mailandguardian is at the Union Buildings. #CabinetAnnouncement

— Natasha Marrian (@NatashaMarrian) May 29, 2019

Pule Mabe on “unity”

Pule Mabe also issued a statement earlier in the day, lambasting certain factions of his own party and media representatives for “trying to drive a wedge” between key ANC members.

Claims had surfaced on Wednesday that Ace Magashule was the driving force behind the Integrity Committee, which is responsible for disciplining MPs who misbehave. But according to the spokesperson, these allegations are “vicious and untrue”:

“The ANC rejects attempts from wedge drivers, both within and outside our organisation and in the media, whose sole intention is to sew divisions between our leaders and members of the ANC. The ANC has a duty and a responsibility to defends its unity against baseless and malicious attacks.”

Pule Mabe

• You can read the full statement from Pule Mabe here:

ANC UNITY IS SACROSANCT

ANC has noted malicious attempts to drive a wedge among leaders & ANC members. In the main, the mainstream media & social media have been used to drive this wedge by isolating specific leaders for malicious attacks through deliberate lies & distortions pic.twitter.com/mP6ssof9Ha

— African National Congress (@MYANC) May 29, 2019