Ramaphosa’s new Cabinet needs to deliver ... soon

LAST week, there was a joke doing the rounds: the South African government needs a leader like Manchester United coach Erik ten Hag to urgently turn things around.

The punchline: It starts with dropping CR.

No explanation needed.

That was a week ago, the Premier League giants were flying high after lifting the Carabao Cup – an almost unthinkable prospect at the beginning of this season when the Dutchman took over a team of over-paid under-achievers.

Credit to Ten Hag, who in quick time has worked wonders at Old Trafford, with the help of a certain Mr Benni Mccarthy in his coaching set-up.

He’s made tough choices, he’s made unpopular decisions and sweeping changes, which have ultimately paid off.

He may not be a crowd-pleaser in the dressing room, but he’s getting the results and, very importantly, the fans are happy.

Cup winners and challenging for the Premier League, the resurgent Red Devils were expected to roll over their archrivals Liverpool, who have regressed over the past few months under Jurgen Klopp.

But the United steam engine got horribly derailed by a spirited Reds team and fired up fans at Anfield on Sunday.

The historic 7-0 scoreline was inexplicable. Was the home team really that good? No. But they played with heart and commitment, each man giving their all.

That's what President Cyril Ramaphosa will need from his new-look Cabinet if they are to put the country back on track.

At stake is the future of South Africa – our electricity supply, our economy, safety and security, social development.

Show improvement in these key mandates and the ruling party may just win the other grand prize: retaining power at next year’s elections.

For Ramaphosa and the ANC’S sake, and for the benefit of the nation, let’s hope he has selected the right team and employs the right game plan to succeed.

Should he and his executive fail to deliver, Ramaphosa and his team should be booted out and the ANC