As South Africa anticipates the announcement of President Cyril Ramaphosa's new cabinet, which will be a mixed bag of officials from the various parties in the government of national unity, there is cautious optimism that the new cabinet will be different from the past and free from the stain of corruption that plagued the previous administrations.
In the past five years, Ramaphosa lost ministers under clouds of corruption — from health minister Zweli Mkhize to sports minister Zizi Kodwa. There was finance minister Nhlanhla Nene and even Malusi Gigaba, who jumped ship with Ramaphosa at the helm.
While we cling on to hope that the new cabinet will comprise ethical individuals who possess integrity and are unshakeable in their commitment to serve, the provincial governments, however, have painted a less hopeful picture that a scandal and corruption-free government is within reach.
In the Free State, premier Maqueen Letsoha-Mathae announced her cabinet on Thursday and in her opening speech gave a commitment that she and her cabinet would root out corruption and uphold ethical governance.
She vowed to prioritise effective service delivery for the people, yet her actions immediately raised eyebrows when she appointed Jabu Ntsokolo Ishmael Mbalula as the MEC for community safety, roads and transport.
The appointment of Mbalula, whose brother is ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula, is controversial due to his alleged involvement in a scandal at the Mangaung metro municipality. The Citizen reported in 2023 that he was named as one of the ghost workers on the municipality’s payroll and had unduly pocketed thousands of rand of taxpayers' funds.
It has been quite some time since these scathing allegations surfaced, but worryingly there has been no public clarification, admission or denial of guilt from Mbalula — something that the public, particularly of the Free State where he will now be serving, deserves.
In Limpopo, premier Phophi Ramathuba also recently unveiled her cabinet, which included Elias Mahoai as the MEC for finance. Mahoai's appointment is equally contentious, given his history as the former director-general of the department of international relations & cooperation, from which he was dismissed by minister Naledi Pandor after a disciplinary hearing.
The hearing revealed gross irregularities, including the mismanagement of R118m in taxpayer funds he signed off for the purchase of non-existent land for the department in New York. Despite these serious lapses, Ramathuba has entrusted Mahoai with overseeing the finances of the province, whose budget for the 2024/25 financial year is almost R550m.
As in the case of Mbalula, so many questions still linger around Mahoai's incident — whether he was a victim of a scam which, if true, is revealing of his attention to detail, or if he himself was directly involved in this corrupt deal. Either way, he failed at executing his duties and was rightfully dismissed by Pandor. How is it that one who was not good enough for Dirco is now good enough for the people of Limpopo?
Both appointments raise troubling questions about governance standards and the commitment to accountability. Are these appointments a result of inadequate vetting processes, political loyalties overriding ethical considerations, or a systemic failure to hold officials accountable for their actions? With tainted officials assuming key roles in these provincial cabinets, there is an undeniable risk that the interests of ordinary citizens could be compromised.
The repercussions of these decisions extend beyond political circles. They erode public trust and confidence in the government's ability to deliver on its promises of transparency and ethical governance. South Africans deserve leaders who are not only competent but are also untainted by allegations of misconduct or mismanagement.
As the new cabinets take shape, it is vital for Ramaphosa and provincial leaders to uphold the highest standards of integrity and accountability. The choices they make now will define the trajectory of governance in their respective regions and shape the public perception of their leadership.
The nation is watching closely to see if these leaders deliver on their promises or perpetuate the cycle of disappointment. It is the duty of every leader to demonstrate unwavering commitment to the principles of good governance and ethical leadership. Anything less would be a disservice to the people they are elected to serve and a betrayal of the trust placed in them.
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