Following an eventful few weeks that saw the ANC’s support plummet to 40% and the formation of a government of national unity featuring business-friendly parties, all eyes are now on President Cyril Ramaphosa as he prepares to form his new cabinet.
This new cabinet promises to be vastly different from its predecessor, with many new faces expected.
One of the most severe criticisms of Ramaphosa’s first administration was his reluctance to dismiss some of the worst-performing ministers the country has seen over the past 30 years.
At the top of this list are Gwede Mantashe (energy and mining), Pravin Gordhan (public enterprises), and Bheki Cele (police), whose tenures have caused enormous damage to our economy – damage that could take years to repair.
Fortunately, Gordhan retired and Cele did not return to parliament, suggesting we may have seen the last of them. However, Mantashe remains in parliament and is a staunch supporter of Ramaphosa, which raises concerns about his continued influence.
Another minister who will thankfully not return is Ebrahim Patel, Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition.
Under Patel’s 15-year leadership, the private sector was virtually villainised, and investment ground to a halt.
A non-communist replacement could foster a more business-friendly environment.
Imagine the potential if a true entrepreneur were appointed to this portfolio.
Hope
The recent high-level interactions between the private sector and the government, aimed at addressing significant failures such as Eskom, Transnet, and the prosecuting authorities, offer hope.
These discussions could influence Ramaphosa to appoint more business-friendly ministers.
Ramaphosa now has the opportunity to be decisive in removing poor-performing cadre-deployed ministers from his cabinet and appointing capable individuals. This could provide the country with a much-needed confidence boost.
The key will be whether these new ministers can replace incompetent officials within their departments with capable people who can make a difference.
Let us hope for a cabinet prioritising competence over loyalty and effectiveness over ideology. South Africa’s future depends on it. -moneyweb.co.za
