Sisulu biggest casualty of Cabinet reshuffle
CAPE TOWN - Former Tourism Minister Lindiwe Sisulu’s political future has been left hanging in the balance after being fired from Cabinet by President Cyril Ramaphosa. Announcing the shake-up of the national executive on Monday night, Ramaphosa replaced Sisulu with Patricia De Lille, who was moved from the Public Works and Infrastructure portfolio. A longstanding member of the ANC national executive committee (NEC), Sisulu has been part of the national executive since 1994 under former president Nelson Mandela and minister of various departments under successive administrations, including human settlements, intelligence and international relations and cooperation ministries. Sisulu’s political ambitions, her hardline stance against Ramaphosa’s presidency and her open disapproval of his leadership was viewed as a possible trigger for her removal from his Cabinet.
She was also among those who contested for the ANC presidency ahead of the party’s national elective conference in December and had been outspoken about her opposition to Ramaphosa’s reelection.
Speaking to the City Press ahead of the conference, she effectively described Ramaphosa’s presidency as scandalous.
Sisulu was also among those who accused Ramaphosa of not coming clean on the Phala Phala scandal relating to the theft of large sums of cash at his game farm.
While she failed to make it on the ballot in her bid for ANC presidency, she also did not make the threshold for the ANC treasurer-general post after being raised from the floor.
Former public enterprises deputy minister Phumulo Masualle was also removed and replaced with Obed Bapela, who had been deputy minister for cooperative governance and traditional affairs (COGTA).
Masualle, who unsuccessfully contested for the ANC treasurer-general position at the party’s conference under presidential contender Zweli Mkhize, was also a vocal critic of Ramaphosa.
Ramaphosa’s much expected reshuffle was expected to see sweeping changes that would include the removal of those who had been a thorn in his side.
Among those who were also removed from the national executive were Sports, Arts and Culture minister Nathi Mthethwa who has now been replaced by former deputy for State security Zizi Kodwa and former minister in the presidency for women and persons with disabilities Maite Nkoane-Mashabane, who has been replaced with Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.
Mthethwa has been in Cabinet since 2008, leading the Police Ministry from 2008 until 2014 before moving to the Arts and Culture Ministry where his political leadership had been heavily criticised by the creative industry over the years.
The removal of Dlamini-Zuma from COGTA was seen as a demotion as she was among those who adopted the Phala Phala panel report in Parliament which would have seen Ramaphosa facing an impeachment inquiry regarding his role in the money theft saga.
Ramaphosa pointed out during his address that his much-expected changes were not about the overhaul but mainly aimed at filling vacancies and “to direct government more effectively towards the areas that require urgent and decisive action.”