#CabinetReshuffle: Tweeps want Bathabile Dlamini gone, analyst agrees
South Africans have taken to Twitter to demand
that President Cyril Ramaphosa remove the Minister of Women in the Presidency
Bathabile Dlamini from cabinet.
Ramaphosa will announce changes to his executive at the Union Buildings on Thursday.
“These changes have been occasioned by the passing away in September 2018 of the Minister of Environmental Affairs, Edna Molewa, and the more recent resignation of the Minister of Home Affairs, Malusi Gigaba,” the Presidency said in a statement.
ALSO READ: Massive relief on the cards for motorists
There is also a demand for the removal of Communications Minister Nomvula Mokonyane.
I doubt it’ll be a huge #CabinetReshuffle. But, I think all these ministers should be weeded out:
— 16 V (@Ara_16V) November 22, 2018
Bathabile
Nomvula
Zokwana
Mthethwa
Motshekga
Mapisa-Nqakula
Cwele
Maite
Zulu
Can Bathabile and Nomvula go.... please #CabinetReshuffle pic.twitter.com/OmETXHUplW
— Kananelo Ralenkoane (@Ken_Ralenkoane) November 22, 2018
Dear President @CyrilRamaphosa, FIRE MINISTER BATHABILE DLAMINI TODAY!#CabinetReshuffle
— Terri Stander, MP (Noxolo) 🇿🇦 (@TerriStander) November 22, 2018
#CabinetReshuffle
— Capital Start-up (@up_capital) November 22, 2018
Heres my wish
Replace Rob Davids
Replace Lindiwe Zulu
Replace Bathabile
Replace Mkhize
Cut out all the Deputy Ministers they have no work useless body that doesn't even amount to Parliament.@CyrilRamaphosa
Political analyst Mcebisi Ndletyana says the changes in the cabinet will be closely watched in light of Ramaphosa vow of “ethical leadership”.
“There has been outcry, a very loud one, that there is an inconsistency to some degree between what the president says and what is reflected in his cabinet. Especially because he has people like Bathabile Dlamini, who the court found to be guilty of maladministration as Minister of Social Development and almost collapsed the grant system. And you also have Nomvula Mokonyane, who almost bankrupt the ministry of water and sanitation. So, individuals like that stand in stark contrast to the message the president wants people to believe.”
Ndletyana believes Ramaphosa will act with caution given the different factions in the African National Congress (ANC).
“Whether or not he rectifies the inconsistency is not guaranteed because it depends on whether he thinks he has consolidated his power within the ANC and is in a fairly strong position. Because coming out of the Nasrec conference the power balance in the ANC has been somewhat precarious. So he has always had to act cautiously against the other faction, even though some of them were proven to be outright corrupt.”
Ndletyana says if Ramaphosa thinks getting rid of individuals from the opposing faction will disrupt the ANC, he won’t do it.