Mbete in second 11th hour retreat
FORMER Speaker Baleka Mbete has for the second time withdrawn her name from the list of ANC MPs on the eve of the swearing-in ceremony in Parliament.
Mbete withdrew her name in 2009 shortly before Parliament began its work, and yesterday she was joined by former home affairs minister Malusi Gigaba in not taking up their seats in the National Assembly.
This comes after President Cyril Ramaphosa promised to appoint competent people in his Cabinet who would be able to do their work.
Ramaphosa said yesterday that the Cabinet would be a good balance in terms of gender, youth, demographic and geographic spread.
He is expected to appoint the new, trimmed Cabinet on Sunday.
Asked by journalists about the Cabinet, Ramaphosa said he was not having sleepless nights, and would appoint competent people.
“No, it’s not sleepless nights. It’s the work we have to do. Everybody knows we’ve got to do this work,” said Ramaphosa.
The ANC confirmed that Mbete and Gigaba had pulled their names from the list.
ANC spokesperson Pule Mabe said they would replenish the list. He said Ramaphosa earlier told the caucus the new MPs would have to be robust and effective in holding the executive accountable.
The withdrawal of Mbete and Gigaba comes after the ANC appointed former environmental affairs minister Nomvula Mokonyane as chair of chairs in Parliament. This was an indication she was not going into the Cabinet.
Newly appointed ANC chief whip Pemmy Majodina said they would ensure their MPs stuck to their Constitutional mandate of holding the executive accountable. Their job was to deliver on the manifesto of the ANC and ensure government implemented. The Cabinet to be appointed would not disappoint South Africans.
Majodina said they would appoint chairpersons of portfolio committees soon after Ramaphosa had appointed his Cabinet. The party would appoint capable people to lead the committees.
“As the ANC caucus, we will ensure that we play our oversight role without tensions. We will ensure that members of the ANC rise to the mandate,” said Majodina.
She said she would work with all leaders of the ANC in Parliament in the new term.
The job of ANC MPs was to ensure that they implemented the resolutions of the party and its manifesto, she stressed. They would do their work faster and smarter.
There was no time, as the people who voted ANC and the public were waiting for services to be delivered in their communities, Majodina said.
“We will ensure that members of the ANC rise to the mandate
Pemmy Majodina New ANC Chief Whip