President Cyril Ramaphosa has made sweeping changes to the national executive, including the replacement of finance minister Tito Mboweni with ANC economic head Enoch Godongwana.
In a major and dramatic reform, Ramaphosa took political control of the intelligence portfolio into his own office, abolishing the ministry of state security. Former deputy minister of intelligence Zizi Kodwa, a trusted Ramaphosa ally, will be responsible for intelligence.
Sydney Mufamadi, a former minister of intelligence and author of the high-level panel on the intelligence services report, has been appointed national security adviser.
The reshuffle is Ramaphosa’s first since coming into office in 2019 and follows two weeks of violence and looting which shook the country and rattled investors. It includes changes across the board, swapping or bringing in new ministers to 10 portfolios.
In the case of Mboweni, Ramaphosa said that he long requested to leave government service but had been persuaded to stay.
“I have acceded to his request,” said Ramaphosa, and thanked him for his service.
The rand slumped as much as 2.68% while Ramaphosa spoke, before quickly paring losses. At 9.35pm it was 0.63% weaker at R14.45/$.
Godongwana has been an enormously influential figure in both ANC and government economic policy and decision making, but has a chequered history in government, having resigned as a deputy minister over a corruption scandal in 2012. He is the head of the ANC’s economic transformation committee, a position he has occupied for a decade.
While many ministers, including those of state security, communications, human settlements, have been reshuffled but remain in cabinet, minister of defence Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula has been dropped and will be redeployed elsewhere, said Ramaphosa.
Ramaphosa has accepted the resignation of health minister Zwele Mkhize, who is facing allegations of corruption. But the president was at pains to give him a worthy send-off.
“I have allowed minister Mkhize to go in order to bring certainty and stability to the health portfolio. I am grateful to minister Mkhize for his service to our country and the outstanding leadership he provided in the face of the worst pandemic in over a century,” Ramaphosa said.
MP and former Ekurhuleni mayor Mondli Gungubele has been appointed as the minister in the presidency. The position was left vacant following the death of Jackson Mthembu earlier this year. Gungubele, a former deputy finance minister, is a trusted Ramaphosa supporter.
Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, who was acting minister in the presidency, replaced Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams as minister of communications & digital technologies. Ndabeni-Abrahams was shipped to small business development, a post that was held by Lindiwe Zulu.
ANC veteran and parliamentary speaker Thandi Modise was appointed minister of defence & military veterans, a portfolio which was led by Mapisa-Nqakula.
Deputy health minister Dr Joe Phaahla was appointed health minister, replacing Mkhize, who resigned a few hours before the cabinet reshuffle was announced.
Public service & administration minister Senzo Mchunu was appointed minister of water & sanitation. He was replaced by Ayanda Dlodlo, who served as public service and administration minister under the Jacob Zuma presidency.
Lindiwe Sisulu was appointed tourism minister, while Mmamoloko Kubayi, who was minister of this portfolio, was shipped to the human settlements department as minister.
Ramaphosa’s cabinet overhaul — although long in coming— is a major stride in imposing his reform agenda. He said that he had to act against ministers who were caught napping as that led to violent riots that claimed over 300 lives and razed thousands of businesses in July.
The ANC has been losing electoral support due to governance failures. The coronavirus pandemic in recent months has battered the frail economy, which contracted 7% in 2020, resulting in the loss of about 1.4-million jobs.
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