Cyril Ramaphosa considering 'cabinet reconfiguration'

29 July 2021 - 12:40 By nonkululeko njilo
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President Cyril Ramaphosa has been under pressure to replace some members of the cabinet to restore the nation's trust.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has been under pressure to replace some members of the cabinet to restore the nation's trust.
Image: REUTERS/Rogan Ward

President Cyril Ramaphosa says a possible “reconfiguration” of his cabinet is under consideration as the country intensifies its vaccination rollout programme. 

He made the remark while addressing journalists at Thembisa after conducting a Covid-19 vaccination site inspection on Thursday. 

“The issue of reconfiguring a cabinet is an ongoing consideration by any president. You look at how you deploy the people who you are working with and how you place those people to execute various tasks, so it is an ongoing process of evaluation and all that. So it's not something that we would say it’s a process that is outlandish, we continue to look at it,” he said.    

The president has been under pressure to replace some members of the cabinet to restore the nation's trust. The calls come in light of the recent unrest which gripped parts of KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng and seemingly contradictory statements made by some ministers — including police minister Bheki Cele, minister of defence and military veterans Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula and minister of state security Ayanda Dlodlo. 

At the weekend, The Sunday Times reported that a major shake-up of the country's security cluster — including the axing of ministers — was on the cards after the government's poor handling of the recent riots that cost 330 lives and caused R50bn in damage to property and infrastructure.    

On suspended health minister Dr Zweli Mkhize, who faces serious allegations of wrongdoing involving the alleged looting of state funds by his close associate in a R150m contract awarded to Digital Vibes, Ramaphosa said he was yet to make a pronouncement.

“I have received the SIU report and there is some finalisation of certain aspects which we're going to get. I am looking at it so allow me the time and space to look at that.”

TimesLIVE


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