President’s reshuffle must put the country first

6 March 2023

There has been much conjecture about the impending Cabinet reshuffle, with some speculating that the country will see a whole-sale reshuffle, while others, including the ANC’s SG, inferring that the President will merely be filling vacancies.

The definition of insanity is to repeat the same actions and expect a different result. If the President is looking for a different result, he will need to make some sweeping changes.

Further, whatever President Ramaphosa has decided, this reshuffle must not pander to the competing internal priorities of the ANC. Any appointments made today need to put South Africa’s needs first and install persons with the necessary skills and integrity to make difficult decisions and get the job done.

While we as the IFP acknowledge that appointing a Cabinet is the prerogative of the President, we would like to remind him that he is tasked with acting in the national interest, and that he cannot escape public accountability and transparency. If he wishes to attempt to regain the trust of the people of South Africa, he needs to take the country into his confidence as regards the rationale behind each appointment and any possible movement between portfolios. 

With the country on a knife-edge due to the impact of continued rolling blackouts and the subsequent economic decline, we also expect the President to outline key deliverables for the Cabinet, as well as how their performance will be assessed and how the existing performance agreements signed with ministers will be updated.

As far back as 2019, research indicated that South Africa had one of the highest numbers of Cabinet Ministers in relation to its population. South Africa was ranked second globally, with more than double the number of Ministers of countries that are eight to 20 times larger.

As the IFP, we would therefore be pleasantly surprised if the President uses this reshuffle as an opportunity to streamline South Africa’s very obviously bloated Cabinet.

We trust that the President will remember his Oath of Office, and put South Africa first.

Issued by Mkhuleko Hlengwa, IFP National Spokesperson, 6 March 2023