Presidency: Cabinet reshuffle to be announced ‘in a matter of days’

Magwenya briefed the media at the Union Buildings in Pretoria on Wednesday.

Ramaphosa is expected to make changes to his cabinet to align the leadership of the country with those elected at the ANC’s elective conference in December.

The reshuffle could see a host of senior ministers leaving the executive after failing to secure a seat on the ANC’s 80-member NEC during the December national conference.  

This includes Public Enterprises Minister, Pravin Gordhan, Employment and Labour Minister, Thulas Nxesi, International Relations and Cooperation Minister, Naledi Pandor, Sports, Arts and Culture Minister, Nathi Mthethwa, Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and People with Disabilities Maite Nkoana-Mashabane and Minister of trade, industry and competition Ebrahim Patel.

The Department of Public Service and Administration has also had no minister since Ayanda Dlodlo left for a job at the World Bank in April last year.

Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula will also have to be replaced as Transport minister, as he is based at Luthuli House full-time to focus on his role as ANC secretary-general.

Magwenya disputed claims that the president has taken too long to make the changes, saying he has to apply his mind.

"The cabinet reshuffle is an exercise in a constitutionally empowered prerogative, the president has to apply his mind.

“The appointment of cabinet members and the management of the cabinet is not something that you can conduct in a heist, it's not something that you can do in a rush.

“It is something that has to be carefully considered because you have to look at the stability of the government and programmes that are already underway.

“There are so many layers of complexity and sensitivity that have to be looked at.

“So, I am not quite sure that he wouldn't agree with the fact that it has taken long because the work of the government has continued.”  

Mangwenya said the president is aware of vacancies in the cabinet.

"So the fact that there are still vacancies in the cabinet has not hindered the work of government, the work of government has not been undermined in any shape or form.

“So the length of time it has taken for him to apply his mind, consult if he needs to consult has had no direct impact on the work of government.

“We also now have a vacancy in the role of deputy president, so there is a sense of urgency that the president fills those vacancies. So in a matter of days, that announcement will be made," he added.

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