The latest cabinet reshuffle is bad for South Africa and bad for governance

17 October 2017

The latest cabinet reshuffle by President Zuma is bad for South Africa and bad for governance, says the Cape Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

“This means we have now had three Ministers of Energy in a single year in a department that should be all about long-term planning,” said Ms Janine Myburgh, President of the Chamber. “The only possible explanation is sinister. We have seen too many strange and irrational deals in the energy sector to believe anything else.”

She said the dramatic change came at a time when Eskom was refusing to sign agreements with independent power producers and the Russian nuclear deal seemed to be on again, despite its rejection by the courts and the country’s energy experts. “President Putin of Russia clearly has more influence on President Zuma than the respectable old guard of the ANC.”

Ms Myburgh said the other cabinet changes were about the President’s bid to retain power and to avenge those who had supported calls for his resignation. They had nothing to do with governance.

“It interesting to see that the changes mean that strong Zuma supporters are being placed in key areas such as State Security, Home Affairs and Communications (where we also have the third minister in a year). Other key areas like the Treasury and the Police were captured in the previous reshuffle.”

She said it was already clear that the nuclear deal would bankrupt the country “but it seems that the President does not care. This latest reshuffle is all about President Zuma. He is putting his own personal interests before the country, the economy and the poor,” Ms Myburgh said.

Issued by Dean Le Grange Media and Digital Co-ordinator, 17 October 2017