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#CabinetShuffle: axed Blade Nzimande, nuclear deals and President Zuma memes
Oh, but it’s a busy news day in South Africa folks. President Jacob Zuma, on the back of appointing a new board for the SABC, has reshuffled his cabinet once again.
The news broke Tuesday morning after the Presidency issued a brief press release. Ministry of Higher Education and Training Blade Nzimande was one of the more notable scalps, replaced by David Mahlobo
The presser is copied in below:
After careful consideration, I have decided to make the following changes to the National Executive;
- Professor Hlengiwe Mkhize is the Minister of Higher Education and Training
- Ms Ayanda Dlodlo is the Minister of Home Affairs
- Ms Mmamaloko Kubayi is the Minister of Communications
- Mr David Mahlobo is the Minister of Energy
- Adv. Bongani Thomas Bongo is the Minister of State Security
- Mr Buti Manamela is the Deputy Minister of Higher Education
I thank the former members of the National Executive for good service in their previous portfolios.
I wish the members who are assuming new portfolios all the best in their new responsibilities.
Commentary on social media following the announcement was anything but brief.
#CabinetShuffle once again trended on South Africa’s Twitter timelines, as users tried to make sense of the latest round of political musical chairs.
What did politicians say?
DA members came out in full force against the reshuffle, with its leader Mmusi Maimane among the first politicians to issue a statement.
He labeled President Zuma “desperate” and alluded to the proposed nuclear energy deal.
How desperate is Zuma for nuclear deal that he keeps reshuffling. Seems now, he has a more captured minister in portfolio. We need a new gov pic.twitter.com/jsNks9L3pk
— Mmusi Maimane (@MmusiMaimane) October 17, 2017
David Maynier reiterated the sentiment, and focussed on the new Minister of Energy David Mahlobo.
David Mahlobo has been appointed as the new Minister of Energy to push through the Nuclear Build Programme!
— David Maynier MP (@DavidMaynier) October 17, 2017
MP John Steenhuisen couldn’t resist using a pun.
Blade knifed to settle scores against SACP and appointment of David Mahlobovich to energy definite move to secure Zuma Russian nuclear deal
— John Steenhuisen MP (@jsteenhuisen) October 17, 2017
While DA spokesperson Phumzile van Damme kept score.
The third Minister of Communications of 2017.
Muthambi, Dlodlo and now Kubayi. All within 7 months.
— Phumzile Van Damme (@zilevandamme) October 17, 2017
UDM leader Bantu Holomisa wondered what difference the new cabinet ministers will make.
BREAKING: Zuma reshuffles Cabinet via @News24 https://t.co/EKGlyHaUCV. Purging continues. What difference will they make?
— Bantu Holomisa (@BantuHolomisa) October 17, 2017
While EFF leader Julius Malema, during a press conference, called on Zuma to resign from office.
“We reject the reshuffle on the National Assembly because it doesn’t include the criminal Zuma,” he added.
Malema also “welcomed” the removal of Nzimande from cabinet, and called on him to join them “in the streets”.
Malema: Zuma must resign from office. #EFFPresser
— EFF (@EFFSouthAfrica) October 17, 2017
Malema: We reject the reshuffle on the National Assembly because it doesn’t include the criminal Zuma. #EFFPresser
— EFF (@EFFSouthAfrica) October 17, 2017
Malema: We welcome the removal of Blade Nzimande. #RESHUFFLE #EFFPresser
— EFF (@EFFSouthAfrica) October 17, 2017
Zwelinzima Vavi, General Secretary of SAFTU, called the move “vintage Zuma” and saw it as a bid to “divide SACP [by removing Nzimande from cabinet] whilst consolidating a move to nuclear”.
#CabinetReshuffle Vintage Zuma making Blade/SACP to pay – a clever divide & rule move but a move to consolidate a drive to impose nuclear
— Zwelinzima Vavi (@Zwelinzima1) October 17, 2017
What about South Africa?
As for the rest of South Africa… well, most on Twitter couldn’t quite believe that #CabinetReshuffle was a thing again.
Some also couldn’t believe that the likes of Public Enterprises minister Lynne Brown and Social Development minister Bathabile Dlamini haven’t been reshuffled.
Lynne Brown, Bathabile Dlamini remains as ministers while Blade Nzimande is fired SACP won’t be happy #CabinetReshuffle pic.twitter.com/isXefC8uDZ
— IG @AdvBarryRoux (@AdvBarryRoux) October 17, 2017
When you survive every #CabinetReshuffle… because you are SASSA fierce! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/8zXpHF48YW
— Gustavo Fringe (@real_cyprian) October 17, 2017
LMFAO’s “Party Rock” reemerged from its slumber to become part of a novel Jacob Zuma meme.
Everyday Im shuffling #CabinetReshuffle pic.twitter.com/PbjDDk4f8V
— The Instigator (@AmBlujay) October 17, 2017
“Everyday I’m shuffling”
– a Zuma proverb#CabinetReshuffle pic.twitter.com/PLngNc3egm
— A U B R E Y ⭕ (@kingAubz) October 17, 2017
While Blade Nzimande was also the subject of ridicule and image macros on the social network.
When fees didn’t fall but your job fell #CabinetReshuffle pic.twitter.com/SmCjmlcrat
— Sir_Regie (@el_regie) October 17, 2017
Blade Nzimande will cry when he wakes up from this dream & find that Jacob Zuma has been fired. Someone wake him up please #CabinetReshuffle pic.twitter.com/aYVR0AWvXJ
— IG @AdvBarryRoux (@AdvBarryRoux) October 17, 2017
Feature image: GovernmentZA via Flickr (CC BY-ND 2.0)
