Reshuffle threatens stability — Mantashe

President fails to consult ANC, allies Move seen as push for nuclear deal

President Jacob Zuma has once again failed to consult the ANC and its allies, merely informing the party’s top six of his second reshuffle of 2017.

The shake-up in the executive had Zuma placing his key lieutenant David Mahlobo in the critical energy portfolio, widely seen as a move to push ahead with the touted nuclear deal.

He also expelled his former ally-turned-nemesis, Higher Education Minister and South African Communist Party (SACP) general secretary Blade Nzimande. The move was described as a declaration of war on the alliance.

The SACP and Cosatu both called on Zuma to step down following his March reshuffle and have since been waiting for the axe to fall on their man.

The rand extended losses against major global currencies after the reshuffle. In a knee-jerk reaction, the rand lost about 5c to the dollar shortly after the announcement.

Zuma’s reshuffle was criticised by the ANC for shifting ministers appointed only in March. It is also understood that some ministers were not informed they would be shifted or removed until the news broke on Tuesday morning.

ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe raised concern about moving some ministers who had only been in their positions for six months, saying it could destabilise government and the departments.

Mmamaloko Kubayi, Ayanda Dlodlo and Hlengiwe Mkhize were first appointed to the Cabinet in March, during a late-night

reshuffle. All three were moved to different portfolios in Tuesday’s reshuffle.

“Once there is a quick turnover of leadership then there is something that is impacting negatively on stability, firstly on that portfolio and then on government…. Government is a function of collective effort and the ability of various team members to work together,” Mantashe said.

Using a soccer analogy, he said when making changes to a team, a replacement always had to be an impact player.

“No matter how good they may be individually the impact of moving them around so quickly may be having a destabilising effect and how that will be mitigated is the question.”

Nzimande was the only minister left without a job after the reshuffle. He was removed as higher education minister and replaced by Hlengiwe Mkhize. Mantashe described his removal as “a pity”. He also confirmed the ANC’s top officials were not consulted but merely informed.

SACP deputy general secretary Solly Mapaila described the reshuffle as factional, saying ministers implicated in statecapture allegations had escaped the chop. The SACP had not yet decided whether its remaining members in the Cabinet would step down after Nzimande’s removal, nor had it decided whether he should remain in Parliament as an MP.

Controversial ministers implicated in state capture, such as Public Service and Administration Minister Faith Muthambi, Mineral Resources Minister Mosebenzi Zwane and Public Enterprises Minister Lynne Brown kept their posts.

DA leader Mmusi Maimane said that the reshuffle was “the latest move in Zuma’s war against anyone who opposes his project of state capture”, targeting Nzimande. EFF leader Julius Malema said the reshuffle was a “clear consolidation of the state of capture for the nuclear procurement deal”, as Zuma’s ally, Mahlobo was appointed as the new energy minister.

The reshuffle was also used to settle political scores and consolidate factional power ahead of the ANC’s high-stakes elective conference in December, Malema said.

Business Unity SA said it was concerned about the lack of stability in departments such as energy and home affairs as certainty was a prerequisite for business confidence.