Opposition parties and labour federation COSATU have condemned the return of former minister Dina Pule to the executive, questioning President Cyril Ramaphosa’s latest Cabinet changes.
The criticism came as Ramaphosa swore in new ministers and deputy ministers on Wednesday at the Union Buildings following changes to the Government of National Unity (GNU) executive.
Among the most controversial appointments was that of Pule as Minister of Social Development, 13 years after she was fired from Cabinet following findings by Parliament’s Ethics Committee that she had breached the Executive Ethics Code.
Pule replaces former Social Development Minister Sisisi Tolashe, who was recently removed from Cabinet after failing to declare the donation of two luxury vehicles to the ANC Women’s League that were reportedly used by her children.
Pule served as communications minister between 2011 and 2013 under former president Jacob Zuma before being removed after Parliament found she had failed to disclose her relationship with a businessman who benefited from a contract awarded by her department and who accompanied her on several government-funded overseas trips.
She currently serves as one of the ANC Women’s League’s top four officials and is the most senior league member in Parliament.
ActionSA was among the parties to condemn the appointment.
In a statement, ActionSA parliamentary leader Athol Trollip said the reshuffle reflected “a Government of National Unity that is out of ideas, lurching from one crisis to the next while clinging to a bloated executive of 75 Ministers and Deputy Ministers.”
“The appointment of the ANC’s Dina Pule as Minister of Social Development demonstrates that the ANC is scraping the bottom of the barrel,” Trollip said.
“Removed from Cabinet in 2013 following Parliament’s Ethics Committee finding that she had breached the Executive Ethics Code, her return sends a dangerous message: ethical failures are no barrier to high office under President Ramaphosa.”
ActionSA also criticised Ramaphosa’s decision to appoint former DA leader John Steenhuisen and minister of Agriculture as deputy minister of Trade, Industry and competition.
Trollip argued Steenhuisen should have been dismissed outright following the handling of the country’s Foot-and-Mouth Disease outbreak, which he said had cost the economy more than R13 billion.
“His appointment proves that the office of Deputy Minister exists to cushion the fall of disgraced former ministers rather than serve the public,” Trollip said.
The party also criticised the appointment of DA politician Willie Aucamp as Minister of Agriculture, describing it as uninspiring and citing questions raised during his tenure at Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment.
ActionSA further accused Ramaphosa of failing to remove ANC ministers such as Thembi Simelane and Gwede Mantashe despite controversies linked to them.
“It is clear that the GNU uses Cabinet as a vehicle for political patronage rather than good governance,” Trollip said.
The party renewed calls for its proposed Cabinet Reform Package, which seeks to abolish deputy minister posts, strengthen parliamentary oversight of Cabinet appointments and save an estimated R1.5 billion annually.
COSATU also expressed concern over the appointments, saying it had not been consulted despite being a longstanding member of the Tripartite Alliance.
While acknowledging that the changes largely involved portfolios held by one GNU partner, COSATU said the appointment of Pule was particularly troubling.
“The appointment of the new Minister for Social Development, Dina Pule, is extremely worrying given the dark clouds under which she was previously removed as a Minister,” the federation said.
“Persons appointed to Cabinet need to be of the highest integrity.”
COSATU said Pule had previously been found wanting by reports of both the Public Protector and Parliament’s Ethics Committee and warned that her appointment risked undermining government’s efforts to rebuild public trust after years of state capture and corruption.
The federation also questioned the continued instability at the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, which will now have its third minister in just two years.
“It is concerning that the critical Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment… is now having its third Minister within two years,” COSATU said.
“It is important that the new members of the Executive hit the ground running. There will be no honeymoon.”
The Democratic Alliance, meanwhile, defended its own appointments while also distancing itself from Pule’s return to Cabinet.
DA leader Geordin Hill-Lewis said the party’s new deployees were selected to demonstrate the DA’s approach to governing.
“They will show that the DA government is better for all South Africans, and will work to get the economy growing to get more people into work,” Hill-Lewis said.
However, the party rejected Ramaphosa’s decision to appoint Pule as Social Development minister, arguing that the President appeared to have prioritised the interests of the ANC Women’s League over the millions of South Africans who depend on social grants.
Ramaphosa’s changes also included the removal of three DA deputy ministers after a request by Hill-Lewis.
Former Deputy Minister of Electricity and Energy Samantha Graham-Mare, former Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation Sello Seitholo and former Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training Mimmy Gondwe confirmed they had received letters from Ramaphosa, dated 30 June, thanking them for their service.
The changes followed Hill-Lewis’ letter to Ramaphosa last month requesting several adjustments to the DA’s representation in the executive.
