Ramaphosa says ‘this is a transitional Cabinet’

In an interview aired on eNCA with President Cyril Ramaphosa following his morning address to the House of Traditional Leaders, Ramaphosa was dismissive of suggestions that his new Cabinet reflected compromises that he had been forced to make by the ANC’s national executive committee and its alliance partners.

He said that this perception was wrong, since this was only a “transitional Cabinet” and it was now staffed by capable ministers who needed to be given a chance to show what they could do.

Ramaphosa expressed his full confidence in his new executive, which now features the return of highly respected names such as Pravin Gordhan and Nhlanhla Nene.

He explained that the delay in last night’s reshuffle announcement was because he had needed to first communicate will all the new appointees before making the announcement.

Opposition parties and civil society have expressed dissatisfaction with the retention of certain ministers, particularly Malusi Gigaba, Bathabile Dlamini and Nomvula Mokonyane. Analysts have suggested this could be a compromise by Ramaphosa in an effort to achieve the unity that his equally controversial deputy president, David Mabuza, has been advocating.

Ramaphosa said last night that the size of Cabinet would remain unchanged for now, but it would be downsized later, following a review. Cabinet ballooned by more than 20 officials during Jacob Zuma’s terms.