So Help Me God
Provincial ANC proud of their former premiers’ inclusion
Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams is sworn in as minister of communications by Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng in Pretoria, on a day that President Cyril Ramaphosa’s newly composed cabinet began their duties.
The ANC and Eastern Cape Council of Churches believe the appointment of Eastern Cape politicians to the new national cabinet is good for the development and performance of the province.
Reacting to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement of his new cabinet, ANC provincial secretary Lulama Ngcukayitobi said the ruling party was “happy and excited that comrades from Ephondweni [Eastern Cape Province]” had made it into the cabinet.
“We are thankful that the president realised there are men and women from the Eastern Cape who have capability and potential to provide the necessary leadership to the national government.
“This will contribute to the developmental trajectory of the province,” Ngcukayitobi said.
He said the party was particularly happy that two of its former premiers were appointed as deputy ministers.
“We are happy for those who have served as our premiers, comrade Noxolo Kiviet and Phumulo Masualle, and that young people from the province such as Stella Ndabeni have been given responsibility. We will support them through and through and we hope they will remember they have a home called the Eastern Cape, so that whatever they do they can contribute to the development and growth of the Eastern Cape.”
Other leaders in the new cabinet who have their origins in the Eastern Cape are Inkosi Pathekile Holomisa, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, Lindiwe Sisulu, Gwede Mantashe and Rosemary Capa.
Eastern Cape Council of Churches CEO Reverend Lulama Ntshingwa, said: “We warmly welcome this cabinet with its interesting mix of age, experience and skills. We have confidence in him [the president] because he is an administrator, a businessman and a politician. He must meet the needs of the masses because the masses are tired of promises.
“We are also excited with the addition of a number of Eastern Cape senior politicians.. They will be able to add value and push the province to perform.”
DA national spokesperson Solly Malatsi said the new cabinet was a result of ANC factions, not Ramaphosa’s will.
“Despite President Cyril Ramaphosa’s commitment to ‘clean up’ government and bring much-needed renewal and change to his cabinet, South Africa has been left with an executive negotiated between factions at Luthuli House,” Malatsi said.
Cuma Dube, of the Business Management Forum in the Eastern Cape, said the cabinet was balanced and had all the elements of a great executive.
“The BMF EC looks forward to working with the cabinet here at home,” he said.
The EFF’s national spokesperson, Mbuyiseni Ndlozi, rejected the new cabinet, and declared “war” on Ramaphosa and his new executive.
“The cabinet remains a bloated bunch of people, which is a clear disregard of the public purse in favour of satisfying the factional demands of the ANC,” he said.