Reshuffle shows Zuma’s power

ON Tuesday President Jacob Zuma shocked the nation when he once more reshuffled his cabinet, for the 12th time since he first took office in 2009.

The biggest casualty was SACP boss Blade Nzimande, who was fired as minister of higher education.

A one-time ally turned nemesis of Zuma, Nzimande’s axing was not unexpected.

He had surprisingly survived the last shake-up in March when Zuma flushed out a number of detractors from his executive, including Pravin Gordhan and Mcebisi Jonas.

Few will sympathise with Nzimande, especially considering his role in Zuma’s ascension to power a decade ago.

Of course the big story of this reshuffle is the shifting of Zuma’s trusted lieutenant, David Mahlobo, from the Department of State Security to head up the government’s crucial energy portfolio.

Such a move suggests, as many believe, that Zuma is pushing ahead with plans to seal the contentious nuclear deal which he appears hell-bent on despite legitimate concerns that it could bankrupt the country.

Boosting these claims is that Mahlobo has increasingly become a notable feature in the dealings by Zuma and his allies with prominent Russian players eyeing our country’s nuclear build programme.

Mahlobo, however, has dismissed this narrative, saying Russia was not the only country that had expressed interest in our mooted nuclear programme. He remains unconvincing. Meanwhile, aside from Zuma’s reasons for the latest shake-up, the move itself tells us as much about the ANC and the tripartite alliance as it does about the president.

This is Zuma’s way of showing all of us that despite being deeply unpopular, he, and not the ANC, is in charge of this government.

His move was made with the knowledge that whatever outrage it may induce, it remains only that.

He has proven again and again that in the ANC and the alliance, his word is final.

This is because those opposed to his actions will always choose self-preservation rather than to cross a man like him.

This is where Zuma’s danger lies.