#CabinetReshuffle: Ramaphosa recycles two ministers, merges two ministries

A cabinet reshuffle during the day? I know right. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, albeit a little late, announced his newly spring-cleaned cabinet to the country on Thursday afternoon.

In light of Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba’s resignation last week, and Minister of Environmental Affair’s Edna Molewa’s death earlier this year, there were a few vacancies to fill.

Ramaphosa picked former Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services Siyabonga Cwele as Malusi Gigaba’s replacement at Home Affairs.

President @Cyril Ramaphosa announces new Ministers. #CabinetReshuffle pic.twitter.com/BHMJp54wJj

— South African Government (@GovernmentZA) November 22, 2018

Nomvula Mokonyane, the country’s former Minister of Communications, is now minister of Environmental Affairs.

This left vacancies in both ministries, but Ramaphosa had a cunning plan. The President announced that the Department of Communications and the Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services will merge into one, and Stella Ndabeni Abrahams is now minister of the combo.

She was previously the deputy minister of the former.

Some government officials applauded this move in particular.

EFF’s Floyd Shivambu wished Ndabeni Abrahams “best wishes”. While former DA spokesperson Phumzile van Damme believed that she would “hit the ground running” in her new role.

Best wishes @Stellarated in your new role as Minister of Communications and Postal Services.

— Floyd Shivambu (@FloydShivambu) November 22, 2018

I see the Departments of Communications & Telecommunications have been merged (delayed to ‘19) This is what we’ve been calling for, it made no sense to separate the 2 in the 1st place. Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams has served at both Departments, I expect her to hit the ground running.

— Phumzile Van Damme (@zilevandamme) November 22, 2018

But the real shocking announcement was the President’s retention of Minister of Social Development Bathabile Dlamini.

The DA’s MP Michael Cardo called the decision a “damp squib”.

What a damp squib announcement. The crooks (like Bathabile Dlamini) stay in place and the hacks (like Nomvula “we don’t want your dirty votes” Mokonyane) get recycled #CabinetReshuffle https://t.co/S6D5RZrpfb

— Michael Cardo (@michaelcardo) November 22, 2018

While the party’s chief whip John Steenhuisen wasn’t cheering the President’s “rotten” recycling drive either.

Same rotten people, sitting around the same table making the same rotten decisions will lead to the same rotten outcomes. If you want real change you have to vote for it….

— John Steenhuisen MP (@jsteenhuisen) November 22, 2018

“Same rotten people, sitting around the same table making the same rotten decisions will lead to the same rotten outcomes. If you want real change you have to vote for it…” he tweeted.

Feature image: screenshot, SA Gov via Twitter