Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Nosiviwe Mapisa-Ngqakula was the biggest casualty when President Cyril Ramaphosa announced a Cabinet reshuffle as other ministers were moved elsewhere within the government.
Suspended Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize is said to have jumped ship before he was pushed and tendered his resignation on Thursday afternoon while Finance Minister Tito Mboweni asked to be relieved of his duties.
Ramaphosa thanked both Mkhize and Mboweni for their services and wished them well in their future endeavors. The reshuffle led to a shake up of the security cluster which came for heavy criticism for how it handled the recent unrest.
Of the lot, only Mapisa-Ngqakula came out to contradict Ramaphosa that the unrest was not an insurrection as characterized by the president. The only survivor in the cluster is Police Minister Bheki Cele.
State Security Minister Ayanda Dlodlo has been moved to human settlement as the department has been collapsed and will now fall under The Presidency. That resulted in her deputy Zizi Kidwa being moved to The Presidency responsible for state security affairs.
“Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula will be deployed to a new position, and we thank her for service to the nation and dedication to her responsibilities,” said Ramaphosa.
He added: “A further vacancy has arisen following the request I have received from Minister Zwelini Mkhize to allow him to step down as the Minister of Health to bring certainty and stability to this important portfolio.
“I am grateful to Minister Mkhize for his service, and particularly for the outstanding leadership he has provided in the face of the worst pandemic in over a century. I have also accepted a long-standing request by Minister Tito Mboweni to be excused from his position as Minister of Finance,” he said.
Mkhize’s shoes will be filled by his deputy Dr Joe Phaahla.
Another big move was the deployment of National Assembly Speaker Thandi Modise who was appointed defence minister while former Ekurhuleni mayor Mondli Gungubele was appointed Minister in The Presidency which has been beefed with a second deputy minister.
The deployment of ministers as announced by Ramaphosa were as follows:
Minister in the Presidency - Mondli Gungubele
Minister of Communications and digital tech - Khumbudzo Ntshavehni
Minister of Defence - Thandi Modise
Minister of Finance - Enoch Godongwana
Minister of Health - Joe Phaala
Minister of Human Settlements - Mmamoloko Kubayi
Minister of Public Service and administration - Ayanda Dlodlo
Minister of Small business - Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams
Minister of Tourism - Lindiwe Sisiulu
Minister of Water and Sanitation - Senzo Mchunu
“I wish to express my deep appreciation to all outgoing Ministers and Deputy Ministers for their service to government and the people of South Africa. The task of rebuilding our economy and our society requires urgency and focus."
