More talks as cabinet starts to take shape

President Cyril Ramaphosa is set to intensify cabinet consultations from Friday as he gears up to announce a national executive for SA.

The presidency has confirmed that Ramaphosa will engage in highlevel consultations with senior ANC officials, alliance partners and signatories of the government of national unity (GNU) to incorporate voices from across the political spectrum as he finalises the composition of his cabinet.

‘MAKE SPACE’

Business Day has also reliably learnt that some ANC MPs have been asked “to make space” for some of Ramaphosa’s preferred candidates for the national executive.

ANC insiders have revealed that notable figures such as former Joburg major Parks Tau, who spearheaded strategic economic projects in the metro during his term, and former ambassador to the US Ebrahim Rasool are among those who are tipped to make it into cabinet.

Ramaphosa’s election as president last Friday, and with the resignation of his former adviser Bejani Chauke as an MP this week, are believed to have created space for the inclusion of Tau and Rasool as MPs and ultimately the executive.

Parliamentary spokesperson Moloto Mothapo confirmed that Chauke had resigned as MP.

After Ramaphosa’s inauguration on Wednesday, the national executive was dissolved, requiring the appointment of new ministers to ensure a functional government. Traditionally, the cabinet is appointed soon after the inauguration, but there is no constitutional requirement on the time frame.

The drop in electoral support for the ANC has resulted in it losing 71 parliamentary seats. Some of Ramaphosa’s best-performing ministers are not returning to parliament, limiting his choices for cabinet.

A cursory look at the ANC MPs list shows it does not include international relations minister Naledi Pandor, police minister Bheki Cele, minister of defence Thandi Modise, her social development counterpart, Lindiwe Zulu, labour minister Thulas Nxesi and Noxolo Kiviet,

the public service & administration minister. Ramaphosa could use his constitutional discretion to appoint Modise and Pandor as the two ministers from outside the National Assembly, according to section 91 of the constitution.

Ramaphosa acknowledges reform has been slow, admitting that not enough was done in his first term to reverse state capture losses. A lack of progress in his second term would do little to reverse the sharp decline in support for the ANC at the polls, which is threatening to relegate it to irrelevance.

Ramaphosa has affirmed his commitment to working with all political parties represented in the unity government.

He will have to satisfy constituencies within the ANC and GNU, but also appoint a national executive that will aggressively pursue his reform agenda.

Among the commitments of the GNU is inclusive, sustainable economic growth, addressing crime and corruption, and stabilising the government.