Cabinet reshuffle eminent, these ministers face the chop

Cyril Ramaphosa, the president of the African National Congress (ANC), is anticipated to make some changes to his cabinet following his victory at the ANC National Conferenc.

According to Sunday World, Ramaphosa’s inner circle wants to punish individuals who cast ballots against him in Johannesburg’s Nasrec.

Ramaphosa garnered 2,476 votes for the ANC presidency, beating his rival, former health minister Dr Zweli Mkhize, who only managed to get 1,897 votes for the coveted post. The conference turned out to be a success for Ramaphosa, having had four of his allies also being elected to the party’s top 7 positions.

Must read: Cyril Ramaphosa gets tied to a wheelchair

Former ANC treasurer-general Paul Mashatile made a return, this time as Ramaphoasa’s deputy. Gwede Mantashe will remain the party’s national chairperson, while Fikile Mbalula, another Ramaphosa ally, has been elected ANC secretary-general.

Sunday World has quoted an ally of President Cyril Ramaphosa, who said he didn’t want to work with those who were not in his corner and that a Cabinet reshuffle is on the cards.

Must read: Cyril Ramaphosa gets another case opened against him

“We are going to clean that cabinet. There is no way the president can work with Lindiwe and NDZ (Dlamini-Zuma). We are aware that they were already designing their cabinet in the event Zweli (Mkhize) emerges,” he is quoted as having said.

COGTA minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma contested against Ramaphosa, but failed to make the cut. Dlamini-Zuma was one of five ANC MPs who voted against the party directive and supported the adoption of a report into the Phala Phala scandal.

At the same time, Tourism minister Lindiwe Sisulu, who has also been a fierce critic of Ramaphosa, could also be shown the door. Sisulu’s “feud” with Ramaphosa stems from controversial opinion piece Sisulu originally penned in The Star newspaper entitled, ‘Hi Mzansi, have we seen justice?’ – in which she criticises the constitution and black judges, claiming the rule of law does not serve African values and interests.

Must read:Cyril Ramaphosa vows after Manashe was chased away by unions