President Cyril Ramaphosa has relieved South Africa’s Intelligence Minister Ayanda Dlodlo and Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula of their duties in a cabinet reshuffle that also saw the South African leader accepting the resignations of Health Minister Zweli Mkhize and Finance Minister Tito Mboweni.
In a move that saw Ramaphosa tightening his grip on the security cluster following last month’s civil unrest in the country, the South African leader announced on Thursday night that he was doing away with the Ministry of State Security and bringing the intelligence service under the presidency.
“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,” Ramaphosa said.
South Africa’s intelligence service is accused of having acted slowly to alert the executive of events leading to last month’s destructive unrest that saw over 300 people dead and looting of businesses.
Ramaphosa also replaced Mapisa-Nqakula with Speaker of the National Assembly, Thandi Modise.
Mapisa-Nqakula recently made headlines when she contradicted Ramaphosa after the president described the unrest as a “failed insurrection”. The former minister told reporters that there was no evidence of an insurrection.
Ramaphosa appointed Enoch Godongwana as new finance minister after he accepted “a longstanding request” by Mboweni to leave office.
Suspended Health Minister Zweli Mkhize, who was embroiled in some corruption scandal, resigned from his position and has been replaced by his former deputy minister Joe Phaahla.
Ramaphosa also moved several ministers around, including separating the department of human settlements and water and sanitation to become two separate departments.
JN/APA