Mbeki-ites in comeback

Several old ANC faces are expected to make a return to parliament but whether President Jacob Zuma will give them cabinet posts remains to be seen.

Former agriculture and public works minister Thoko Didiza has quietly returned to national politics after a six-year break.

Didiza resigned from former president Thabo Mbeki's cabinet in 2008 after Mbeki was ousted as party leader at the ANC's 2007 Polokwane national conference.

Didiza is 15th on the ruling party's candidates list for the National Assembly, putting her in a prime position for appointment to Zuma's cabinet.

Zuma is expected to announce his cabinet a few days after his swearing in on Saturday at the Union Buildings.

Another Mbeki-era political heavyweight, Tito Mboweni, has been touted as labour minister in Zuma's new cabinet.

Former national police commissioner Bheki Cele, who occupies pole position on KwaZulu Natal's province-to-national list, is expected to liven up proceedings in parliament as a vocal back-bencher.

Mnyamezeli Booi will step into the vacancy created by disgraced former communications minister Dina Pule, who withdrew her name in March.

Booi is now number 70 on the ANC's list of new MPs who will be sworn in on Wednesday, parliament said. The public protector found that Pule unlawfully extended her spousal benefits to her partner, Phosane Mngqibisa.

Booi has his own troubled past. He was implicated in the Travelgate scandal, exposed in 2004.

Tharina Abell, secretary of parliament's rules committee, said the National Assembly seat of outgoing DA parliamentary leader Lindiwe Mazibuko would go to Thomas Hadebe, who had been the DA caucus leader in Newcastle, KwaZulu-Natal.

Tim Harris, the DA's outgoing finance spokesman, will be succeeded by Marian Shinn, who had been the party's spokesman on communications.

Agang SA is sending Michael Tshishonga and Andries Tlouamma to parliament. Party leader Mamphela Ramphele decided not to take up a seat in the National Assembly.