President Cyril Ramaphosa to announce his Cabinet TONIGHT
President Cyril Ramaphosa will announce members of the executive (Cabinet and deputy ministers) on Sunday, 30 June.
The Presidency confirmed on Sunday afternoon.
CYRIL RAMAPHOSA TO ANNOUNCE HIS CABINET
On Sunday, Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said the announcement – which will be in the form of a televised address to the nation – follows the inauguration of Ramaphosa as president of the country on Wednesday, 19 June, which in turn followed the President’s election by the National Assembly on Friday, 14 June.
Magwenya said the new National Executive will constitute the seventh democratic administration as a Government of National Unity comprising a diversity of political parties as an outcome of the national and provincial elections held on Wednesday, 29 May.
The South African previously reported South Africa has been without a Cabinet and executive for two weeks, marking a pedestrian start to Ramaphosa’s second term as president.
Ramaphosa’s delay in naming an executive is a consequence of tough negotiations between parties making up the GNU, namely the DA, Inkatha Freedom Party, Patriotic Alliance, Good party and the Pan Africanist Congress of Azania. However, the wrangling seemed to be specifically between the Ramaphosa-led ANC and the John Steenhuisen-led DA, with letters from both parties this week revealing a nasty fight for Cabinet and executive positions.
President Cyril Ramaphosa and DA leader John Steenhuisen in Parliament. The DA had demanded seven key cabinet positions. Image: GCIS/Flickr
In a leaked letter to Fikile Mbalula, Helen Zille said they want the DA to be represented across the board. This would include key departments such as mineral resources and energy, transport, trade, and industry, as well as public works, higher education and public service and administration, home affairs, justice, international relations and communication, and digital technologies.
Zille also said they want a review of all tenders awarded since the elections in departments where it will have ministerial control.
The party also insisted that the contracts of director generals in these departments be terminated in favour of DA-approved appointments
DA TO BE AT THE HELM OF THESE PORTFOLIOS?
On Friday, ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula dropped a hint that talks on the government of national unity (GNU) might be concluded soon.
“Good morning South Africa almost done with GNU discussions, In the best interest of all south africans . It will be done as promised,” he wrote.
According to reports, the DA will be in charge of six portfolios including:
Agriculture and rural development
Public Works and Infrastructure
Home Affairs
Basic Education
Forestry, fisheries and environmental affairs
Communication and digital technology
The DA will have six of its members as deputies in the following portfolios:
Trade, industry and competition
Finance
Water and Sanitation
Higher Education
