Portrait of Cyril Ramaphosa
Politician · policy
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Cyril Ramaphosa on Cabinet Reshuffle

Exercises executive prerogative (strong) Position evolved

TL;DR

Cyril Ramaphosa exercises his constitutional authority to appoint and change members of the National Executive through periodic reshuffles.

Key Points

  • He carried out a major reshuffle in August 2021 following civil unrest, which included abolishing the Ministry of State Security.

  • The Second cabinet of Cyril Ramaphosa, formed in May 2019, was reshuffled twice before being dissolved in June 2024.

  • Changes to the National Executive are made in accordance with section 91(2) of the Constitution to ensure effectiveness.

Summary

Cyril Ramaphosa has periodically reshuffled his cabinet as an exercise of his executive prerogative under the Constitution to ensure government effectiveness and deliver on mandates. The Second cabinet, for example, underwent significant changes in August 2021 following civil unrest and the subsequent resignations of key ministers, which included abolishing the Ministry of State Security and placing its agency's responsibility directly under the Presidency. He also executed a March 2023 reshuffle after his victory at the ruling party's National Conference, creating new ministerial posts focused on critical issues like electricity.

These actions, while demonstrating the President's power to appoint and redeploy, have also drawn criticism regarding the political motivations behind some appointments and removals. For instance, analyses have suggested that retaining certain individuals despite public evidence of wrongdoing implies a political impotence or a need to maintain internal party balance, rather than solely focusing on anti-corruption goals. Nevertheless, changes are often framed by the office as necessary to address national crises and align the executive with the President’s vision for growth and reform.

Key Quotes

This is to ensure that the country's domestic and foreign intelligence services more effectively enable the president to exercise his responsibility to safeguard the security and integrity of the nation

I would like to wish these members of the national executive well in their new positions

Frequently Asked Questions

Cyril Ramaphosa views cabinet reshuffles as a core function of his executive authority, using them to restructure the government and ensure effectiveness. He makes these changes under the mandate provided by the Constitution to deliver on national objectives. The President has historically used reshuffles to respond to crises or realign priorities.

Yes, the nature and focus of Cyril Ramaphosa's cabinet reshuffles have evolved over time, reflecting changing political and national circumstances. Early reshuffles involved significant department amalgamations and later ones targeted specific crises, such as the creation of a dedicated Minister of Electricity. These shifts indicate an adaptation in how he exercises this power.

The President has stated that changes to the National Executive are made to ensure the effectiveness of Cabinet in delivering on its mandate. Following the 2021 unrest, he framed reshuffles as necessary to safeguard national security by placing intelligence oversight directly under his office. He has also used reshuffles to introduce new leadership in response to pressing national challenges.