PRESIDENT Jacob Zuma on Tuesday night announced a shock reshuffle of his Cabinet, shifting Ngoako Ramatlhodi from the Mineral Resources portfolio and replacing him with an unknown Free State MP, Mosebenzi Zwane.
Mr Ramatlhodi was moved to the public service and administration portfolio left vacant after the death of Collins Chabane in March year.
The reshuffle, expected since March, took even insiders by surprise. It was announced in a statement only at 8.20pm on Tuesday night.
The appointment of Mr Zwane was even more surprising. He is little known outside of the Free State, where he served on the provincial cabinet as Economic, Small Business Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs. Two weeks ago, he was redeployed to Parliament.
The reshuffle comes ahead of the ANC's national general council next month at which the ANC gathers to assess progress on policy resolutions made at the Mangaung 2012 conference.
The appointment of a Free State politician, a province that is under-represented in the Cabinet in geographic and ethnic terms was viewed by insiders as a move by Mr Zuma to recognise the province's contribution to national politics.
It also follows the emergence of a factional group of provincial premiers — dubbed the "premier league" — from the Free State, North West and Mpumalanga. At its national executive meeting at the weekend, the ANC resolved that the league would be investigated for allegations of meddling in the elections of the ANC Youth League and Women’s League conferences.
“Notwithstanding the tough conversations we found it necessary to have with each other at times, we always appreciated Minister Ramatlhodi’s openness to these frank conversations which were invariably based on striving to achieve the best for the industry and its contribution to the country and its people,” said Chamber of Mines CEO Roger Baxter.
The chamber wants to meet Zwane as soon as possible to discuss the state of the industry with him, he said.
Mr Zuma, who has typically used the selection of his Cabinet to shore up his own position in internal dynamics, made no other changes to the Cabinet.
While Mr Ramatlhodi has failed to bring stability and certainty to the mining sector and restore investor confidence, it is unlikely that the appointment of an unknown quantity such as Mr Zwane will help calm nerves in the jittery sector.
It is also surprising that Mr Zuma would choose to reshuffle his mining minister just as government is poised to begin the anticipated Mining Phakisa, an intensive process of analysis and strategising with government and external experts.
The appointment of Zwane, ahead of Deputy Mineral Resources Minister Godfrey Oliphant, who understands the mining sector, raised questions about why Zwane was appointed to the post, said James Lorimer, the Democratic Alliance’s shadow mineral resources minister.
“The Gupta family are involved in coal and uranium mining and have attracted allegations that their companies have flouted regulations. Zwane’s appointment will throw a spotlight on his relationship with them,” Lorimer said.
The Gupta family has coal mines as well as the Shiva gold and uranium mine. The family is close to Zuma.
Ngoako Ramatlhodi. Picture: MARTIN RHODES
PRESIDENT Jacob Zuma on Tuesday night announced a shock reshuffle of his Cabinet, shifting Ngoako Ramatlhodi from the Mineral Resources portfolio and replacing him with an unknown Free State MP, Mosebenzi Zwane.
Mr Ramatlhodi was moved to the public service and administration portfolio left vacant after the death of Collins Chabane in March year.
The reshuffle, expected since March, took even insiders by surprise. It was announced in a statement only at 8.20pm on Tuesday night.
The appointment of Mr Zwane was even more surprising. He is little known outside of the Free State, where he served on the provincial cabinet as Economic, Small Business Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs. Two weeks ago, he was redeployed to Parliament.
The reshuffle comes ahead of the ANC's national general council next month at which the ANC gathers to assess progress on policy resolutions made at the Mangaung 2012 conference.
The appointment of a Free State politician, a province that is under-represented in the Cabinet in geographic and ethnic terms was viewed by insiders as a move by Mr Zuma to recognise the province's contribution to national politics.
It also follows the emergence of a factional group of provincial premiers — dubbed the "premier league" — from the Free State, North West and Mpumalanga. At its national executive meeting at the weekend, the ANC resolved that the league would be investigated for allegations of meddling in the elections of the ANC Youth League and Women’s League conferences.
“Notwithstanding the tough conversations we found it necessary to have with each other at times, we always appreciated Minister Ramatlhodi’s openness to these frank conversations which were invariably based on striving to achieve the best for the industry and its contribution to the country and its people,” said Chamber of Mines CEO Roger Baxter.
The chamber wants to meet Zwane as soon as possible to discuss the state of the industry with him, he said.
Mr Zuma, who has typically used the selection of his Cabinet to shore up his own position in internal dynamics, made no other changes to the Cabinet.
While Mr Ramatlhodi has failed to bring stability and certainty to the mining sector and restore investor confidence, it is unlikely that the appointment of an unknown quantity such as Mr Zwane will help calm nerves in the jittery sector.
It is also surprising that Mr Zuma would choose to reshuffle his mining minister just as government is poised to begin the anticipated Mining Phakisa, an intensive process of analysis and strategising with government and external experts.
The appointment of Zwane, ahead of Deputy Mineral Resources Minister Godfrey Oliphant, who understands the mining sector, raised questions about why Zwane was appointed to the post, said James Lorimer, the Democratic Alliance’s shadow mineral resources minister.
“The Gupta family are involved in coal and uranium mining and have attracted allegations that their companies have flouted regulations. Zwane’s appointment will throw a spotlight on his relationship with them,” Lorimer said.
The Gupta family has coal mines as well as the Shiva gold and uranium mine. The family is close to Zuma.
