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

President Cyril Ramaphosa, after what felt like an infinitely long wait, finally unveiled his new Cabinet for the sixth administration.

The president stressed the fact that his wish is to form a government that heeds the calls of the people. The people wanted a leaner Cabinet, with fewer ministers occupying redundant posts.

There were also murmurs of gender equality and representation of more women needed in ministerial positions. More crucial, however, were the calls to act against ministers who have been implicated in state capture and other forms of corruption.

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

Ramaphosa unveils a lean, representative Cabinet

Heeding these calls, the president, on Wednesday evening, published his 28-member Cabinet, with familiar faces such as Fikile Mbalula, Gwede Mantashe, and Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams all making appearances in new positions.

50% of the new team of ministers is comprised of women and certain portfolios were merged to supplement existing ones and give the Cabinet a leaner look.

When David Mabuza was sworn in as a Member of Parliament on the eve of the announcement, it was clear then that reports that previously suggested that he would be sacked were not going to hold any truth to them.

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

Mabuza retained his position as the Deputy President and the embattled Pravin Gordhan made his way back to the Ministry of Public Enterprises after a brawl with the Public Protector.

DA slams Ramaphosa’s choice, calls for lifestyle audits

The Democratic Alliance’s (DA) leader, Mmusi Maimane, ridiculed the presidents’ choice in the aftermath of the announcement.

He was critical of Ramaphosa’s contradictory decision to include two deputies in some portfolios, chalking it up to the president only serving the interests of the ANC.

“With a slight reduction to the size of the cabinet – at 28 members – Ramaphosa has shown that he, like his predecessors, has used the cabinet to reward loyal cadres within the ANC.

“Cutting a few ministers whilst adding more deputy ministers will not fool the people of South Africa. Presented with a fresh opportunity to create his own cabinet, he chose the ANC’s survival over the people of South Africa,” he said.

Maimane noted that in the next coming days, he would be announcing his Shadow Cabinet, and the first task at hand will be to ensure that Ramaphosa follows through immediately with the following:

• Institute lifestyle audits of his entire Cabinet – as the DA-led Western Cape Government has recently announced
• Slash VIP protection for all cabinet members.
• Ensure each performance management contract for cabinet ministers is brought before Parliament for oversight before the relevant portfolio committee

The opposition leader dismissed Ramaphosa’s selection as his way of trying to mend the perceived factionalism within the ANC.

“South Africa at this point deserves a diverse, competent cabinet that is not a negotiated settlement between factions, but instead a team of committed individuals who are ready to take South Africa forward,” he added.