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AXED, RELEGATED & RETIRED

Discontinued Inc – Ministers and deputies who were demoted, quit or got the chop

Police Minister Bheki Cele gets the boot after a tenure marked by controversies, including shouting matches and questionable trips to the Rugby World Cup, as President Cyril Ramaphosa shuffles the deck in his government of national unity Cabinet announcement, leaving a trail of outgoing officials in his wake.
Discontinued Inc – Ministers and deputies who were demoted, quit or got the chop Illustrative image: Bheki Cele (Photo: Elmond Jiyane / GCIS) | Thulas Nxesi ((Photo: Gallo Images / Fani Mahuntsi) | Lindiwe Zulu (Photo: Leila Dougan) | Ebrahim Patel (Photo: parliament.gov.za) | Thandi Modise (Photo: GCIS) | Naledi Pandor. (Photo: Jacoline Schoonees) | Sunset (Photo: Pixabay)
Queenin Masuabi
By Queenin Masuabi
1 Jul 2024
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Bheki Cele has been axed as police minister following years of calls for his removal. While it’s not clear why President Cyril Ramaphosa decided to boot him out of the position, Cele has had his fair share of controversies. 

In 2023, the Joint Committee on Ethics and Members’ Interests found that Cele breached the Code of Ethical Conduct with his behaviour at a SAPS Imbizo in Cape Town in July 2022, where Cele is alleged to have become irate and shouted at Action Society’s Ian Cameron, telling him to “shut up”.

The complainant alleged that Cele did not behave in the calm and dignified manner required by the high office he holds. It was recommended to the National Assembly that he apologise in the House for his conduct toward Cameron.

The DA also laid a complaint against Cele for attending the Rugby World Cup in Paris, France with an undisclosed amount of funding obtained from an unnamed “private company”.

They also claimed that South African taxpayers covered his assistant’s bill to join him in Paris for a staggering R446,339.43.

Outgoing ministers

At least nine ANC ministers and deputies are no longer in the national executive following Ramaphosa’s government of national unity (GNU) Cabinet announcement on Sunday.

From this group, former public enterprises minister Pravin Gordhan, former minister of women, youth and persons living with disabilities Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma and deputy minister of human settlements Pam Tshwete have chosen to retire.

Thandi Modise is no longer minister of defence and military veterans. Cele has been replaced by Senzo Mchunu as minister of police, while Naledi Pandor is no longer the minister of international relations and cooperation.

Lindiwe Zulu has been axed and is no longer minister of social development and ⁠Ebrahim Patel has been removed as the minister of trade, industry and competition. The SACP’s Thulas Nxesi is no longer minister of labour and employment.

Three ANC bigwigs have been demoted to deputy ministers. Sihle Zikalala was minister of public works and infrastructure but is now the deputy minister in the same department. The DA’s Dean Mcpherson is now the minister in the department.  

Joe Phaahla is now the deputy health minister with Aaron Motsoaledi heading the department. Mondli Gungubele was communications minister and now is the deputy minister in the same department which will be run by the DA’s Solly Malatsi. DM

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Comments (10)

K Mmoto Jul 2, 2024, 11:33 AM

They retired rather than being fired. The ability to move down from Minister to Deputy Minister demonstrates the humility of those three individuals. They will likely help new Ministers to hit the ground running. Luckily they are grounded persons who have the ability to work well with their new colleagues. We need to get used to collaborative governance because the voters are becoming more discerning in their voting preferences.

Eberhard Knapp Jul 2, 2024, 01:04 PM

Excellent observation!

K Mmoto Jul 2, 2024, 11:33 AM

They retired rather than being fired. The ability to move down from Minister to Deputy Minister demonstrates the humility of those three individuals. They will likely help new Ministers to hit the ground running. Luckily they are grounded persons who have the ability to work well with their new colleagues. We need to get used to collaborative governance because the voters are becoming more discerning in their voting preferences.

Katharine Ambrose Jul 2, 2024, 11:56 AM

Awkward to learn the ropes as a new minister when your deputy who had previously occupied your post knows more and won't be too happy with his demotion. Is the deputy a deployed cadre placed to undermine his new boss. Or is the deputy someone who will put aside his feelings to aid and guide the new incumbent?

Terril Scott Jul 2, 2024, 01:12 PM

My thoughts too. DMs are usually where the rubber meets the road. If the ANC is being the ANC of old, these "demoted" cadres are positioned to se to it that the DA ministers accomplish nothing. I hope that I am mistaken.

Interested Observer Jul 2, 2024, 12:12 PM

so many people. so much money needed to pay for them. so little done. why? why? why?

Interested Observer Jul 2, 2024, 12:12 PM

so many people. so much money needed to pay for them. so little done. why? why? why?

rocketmanmsb Jul 2, 2024, 12:32 PM

People need to understand that there are no "axing" or demotion following an election. The president automatically resigns on the eve of an election, and with him, the Executive is dissolved. If the same president is elected again by the National Assembly, s/he constitutes a brand new Executive. If some people from the previous Executive survive, they are new ministers and deputy ministers. There are no continuity in the Cabinet or Parliament. "While it’s not clear why President Cyril Ramaphosa decided to boot him out of the position"... It is abundantly clear, my dear. The ANC received only 73 seats in the national vote; which means that they could only send 73 members to the NA (in addition to the 86 seats it won in the regional ballot). This 73 includes Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa, who was elected as president by the NA, and automatically resigned his seat as a member of Parliament. Parks Tau replaced him as MP. Bheki Cele was number 79 on the ANC list for national-to-national. This means that the ANC has to lose five more MPs before Cele can be sworn in. His term as minister of police, and MP, came to an end on 29 May 2024 at 00H00. He was not there to be "booted out". While I understand what you are trying to convey here, it might be better for you to leave politics and the intricacies of governance to those who actually know what they are talking about

Eberhard Knapp Jul 2, 2024, 01:08 PM

Very arrogant comment, Mr.- Blankenberg! Not really warranted...

headnhlapo@gmail.com Jul 2, 2024, 01:23 PM

Please and thank you.

gerryber@me.com Jul 2, 2024, 01:46 PM

How could Ramsphosa keep Geede Mantashe as mining minister. One of the key positions in the hands of a dinosaur. Frightening!!

Alwyn Visagie Jul 2, 2024, 03:09 PM

Because of the power that Gwede holds within the ANC. Ramaphosa needs to keep him close to try to delay his recall (which happened to both Mbeke and Zuma) which dissident ANC powerful members will push for (especially since they believe the partnership with the DA is a sell-out).

David Forbes Jul 2, 2024, 10:28 PM

The reason Cele stayed so long is because he brings the KZN constituency. Now he has gone, but his replacement is also a Zulu! Sleazy Gweezy is back because he brings the E Cape constituency, specifically around the Cala area. Politics is not about the best person for the job, its about . . . politics! Power, influence and party politics all come into play in a big way, usually before the good of the country. Zille is a case in point.

alastairmgf Jul 2, 2024, 06:51 PM

It’s good to see the back of the lot of them, but especially the awful Pandor and equally odious Dlamini-Zuma.

alastairmgf Jul 2, 2024, 06:51 PM

It’s good to see the back of the lot of them, but especially the awful Pandor and equally odious Dlamini-Zuma.

David Forbes Jul 2, 2024, 10:19 PM

Finally seeing the end of the cruel pig farmer Thandi Modise, the Crook in a Hat Cele, and "Fire Pool" Nxesi (did he fall through the cracks like the freelancers he ignored?) although the loss of Pandor is sad. Pravin, I think reached the end of his road, exhausted and needs some time out. It's also a relief to see the end of Nkosazana "zoll" Dlamini Zuma, and that fashionista MK guerrilla Lindiwe Zulu with the big mouth.