THE SHUFFLE
Outgoing Deputy President David Mabuza the latest ANC member to resign from Parliament
The resignation of Deputy President David Mabuza indicates his imminent departure from President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Cabinet.
Deputy President David Mabuza resigned as a member of the National Assembly on Tuesday, Daily Maverick learnt on Wednesday morning.
At the beginning of the month, the outgoing deputy president confirmed that he had resigned from his position. Mabuza was speaking at his brother’s funeral in Mpumalanga where he said he wanted to make way for newly elected ANC deputy president Paul Mashatile.
President Cyril Ramaphosa’s spokesperson Vincent Magwenya explained earlier that Mabuza would only leave the position once they had tied up all the loose ends pertaining to his departure.
The delays around the Cabinet reshuffle sparked rumours that Mashatile was being blocked by Ramaphosa’s close allies. However, ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula has been adamant that there is nothing untoward about the process surrounding the reshuffle.
Not only was Mabuza not re-elected at the ANC’s 55th conference in December 2022, he also no longer occupies a seat in the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC), its highest decision-making body between conferences.
Read in Daily Maverick: “Godongwana sworn in as MP in latest move by Ramaphosa to reshuffle Cabinet”
On Tuesday, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana was quietly sworn in as an MP. Eastern Cape MP Mike Basopu resigned on Monday to make way for Godongwana.
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Godongwana’s swearing-in is believed to be a move by Ramaphosa to allow the appointment of Head of Infrastructure at the Presidency Kgosientsho Ramokgopa as minister of electricity. Ramokgopa is expected to be one of the two ministers appointed who are not part of the National Assembly.
The ANC has sworn in four new MPs this month – party deputy Mashatile, second secretary-general Maropene Ramokgopa, KwaZulu-Natal cooperative governance MEC Sihle Zikalala and former Gauteng economic development MEC Parks Tau.
It is likely that there will be a number of ministers who will be booted out of Ramaphosa’s Cabinet. Those who are at risk are senior members who were not elected into the NEC and those who have defied the ANC or spoken harshly against the President.
Prominent ministers who did not make the NEC list include Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Naledi Pandor, Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Nathi Mthethwa and Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, the Minister of Women, Children and People with Disabilities.
Read in Daily Maverick: “Mabuza to step aside for Mashatile, Ramaphosa asks for time to tie up loose ends”
Neither has National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula been elected to the NEC, which places her at risk of being booted out.
Some insiders believe Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan is unlikely to face the chop despite not being elected to the NEC.
There is speculation that Tourism Minister Lindiwe Sisulu and Cooperative Governance Minister Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma will be dropped. Both have had their differences with the President. DM
Update at 11.50am: The presidency subsequently confirmed the resignation of Mabuza from parliament and thus as deputy president, saying in a statement: “President Ramaphosa will make an announcement in due course about the appointment of a new Deputy President.”
Ramaphosa thanked Mabuza for his “exceptional service to the country”, saying: “The Deputy President has undertaken the responsibilities of his office with dedication. I am grateful for the support he has provided to me throughout his term and for the leadership he has provided to the work of government.”
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Enough speculation already? Please Pres. Ramaphosa, can we now have some substantive, effective action in this never ending chess game. Asseblief tog!
This is a further very interesting development, in light of the excellent investigative reporting that was published earlier in the week about the criminal syndicates that have control of Eskom in Mpumalanga, and involvement of Ministers in the whole scheme.
I am also wondering if there is a connection… there is so much going on that not even the best investigative journalists know about (or have even information to report). For example, does Ramaphosa know something that we don’t know which explains all these delays? It’s all very strange…
We as citizens of this country would not have noticed anything different if this useless freeloader hadn’t resigned. It remains to be seen if anything useful will come of this new cabinet, however, I sincerely doubt it.
The more things change, the more they stay the same.
He thanked Mabuza “for his excellent service”. Name me ONE positive thing this man did. He may have served Ramaphoza well, by never opening his mouth. Then again, he was ill and had to spend a lot of time in Russia.
Maybe he will be quickly heading back to Russia when all hell lets loose and AdeR spills all the beans.
He’s certainly provided exceptional service to SOME in the country. A few people are much richer for it. Everyone else is suffering
Hmmmmm i wonder if its got anything to do with the Eskom Cartels….
Thanked Mabuza for his exceptional service to the country? Sorry…what service? Helping Eskom or helping himself to what Eskom could give him? Taxpayers have a right to know where their contributions are being spent/used or stolen. They have a right to the truth and to recourse if it’s stolen. Basically taxpayers have rights…something the ANC doesn’t appear to understand!
Do you have a day job Jane?
Depends what you mean by “job”! Trying to stay sane in this country is a job in itself!
“Ramaphosa thanked Mabuza for his “exceptional service to the country.” Does the president believe that the citizens of this country are idiots. DM did nothing useful. He was conspicuous by his absence.
“it was bound to come out”
Great News – now he will have time to start building his defence in ANOTHER scandal surrounding this “comrade” that has been fighting against mr Fred Daniel in ANOTHER corruption and CRIMINAL syndicate. I hope one day that the ANC criminals will face the music – NOT WITH MOET CHANDON…