PRETORIA, Gauteng — The recent South Africa cabinet reshuffle has ignited a fierce constitutional and political debate after the Democratic Alliance (DA) took the unprecedented step of initiating executive changes within the Government of National Unity (GNU). While President Cyril Ramaphosa officially announced the swearing-in of new ministers and deputy ministers, political analyst Professor Bheki Mngomezulu argues that the driving force behind the DA’s ministerial adjustments was actually party leader Geordin Hill-Lewis. According to Mngomezulu, such maneuvers fall strictly under the sitting president’s discretion, making the DA’s direct involvement a highly unusual political maneuver.
An Unprecedented Constitutional Shift
Speaking on the dynamics of the newly formed coalition, Mngomezulu noted that while the African National Congress (ANC) holds the majority and President Ramaphosa leads the government—even if the ANC did not win the 2024 election outright—the DA has effectively positioned itself as the dominant partner calling the shots.
Under normal circumstances, a party not leading the government cannot initiate a cabinet reshuffle. Mngomezulu pointed to specific constitutional provisions to underscore this: Section 84(e) grants the president the right to appoint officers, Section 91 specifically covers the appointment of ministers, and Section 93 details the appointment of deputy ministers.
However, in this latest reshuffle, Mngomezulu observed that the only appointment truly initiated by the President was that of Dina Pule. The rest of the DA’s changes were initiated by Hill-Lewis, who submitted a list of names to the President. By doing so, Hill-Lewis effectively initiated a cabinet reshuffle in all but name. Hill-Lewis has stated that he expects these new executive appointments to raise the bar in government and deliver practical progress.
While the DA still holds exactly six ministerial and six deputy ministerial positions—meaning their numerical status remains unchanged—Mngomezulu argues that the reshuffle significantly strengthens their political standing. By dictating the terms of the reshuffle, the DA is perceived as the strongest partner in the GNU, turning the event into a major talking point for the coalition’s future.
Dina Pule’s Controversial Return to Cabinet
While the DA dictated its own changes, President Ramaphosa exercised his own discretion in bringing back Dina Pule, a move that has drawn significant attention and criticism. Pule was famously dismissed from her role as Minister of Communications in 2013 by former President Jacob Zuma, who cited unethical conduct. At the time, the Public Protector found that while she did not steal money, her conduct was deemed improper, a finding echoed by the committee investigating the matter.
Mngomezulu expressed deep concern over Pule’s return 13 years later, questioning whether she had undergone any genuine political rehabilitation during her time out of the cabinet. He recalled that she was ordered to apologize to Parliament, suspended, fined, and ultimately reprimanded for lying to Parliament on several occasions.
The analyst posed critical questions: Is there no one else in the ANC, or even the ANC Women’s League, who is in good standing to take this position? Mngomezulu criticized the “recycling” of politicians, arguing that moving underperforming ministers from one ministry to another is a disservice to the country. He questioned what message this sends to the electorate on the eve of an election, asking if the party has truly repented and corrected its past wrongs. Nevertheless, Mngomezulu conceded that the buck stops with Ramaphosa, who is exercising his powers within the confines of the law.
John Steenhuisen Demoted Amidst Internal DA Politics
The reshuffle also highlighted shifting internal dynamics within the DA, particularly concerning John Steenhuisen, who was moved down from his position as Agriculture Minister to a deputy minister role.
Mngomezulu noted that Hill-Lewis had initially projected himself as a peacemaker, assuring the public that the status quo would remain unchanged. However, he subsequently wrote to the President requesting Steenhuisen’s removal from the Agriculture portfolio.
Steenhuisen’s tenure as Agriculture Minister was marred by controversy surrounding the handling of foot-and-mouth disease. While he was credited with initiating the importation of vaccine doses into the country, he faced fierce backlash from farmers. The farmers took him to court, arguing they had the ability to purchase their own doses and that the minister was preventing them from doing so. The court ultimately ruled against him.
Mngomezulu, expressing sympathy for the KwaZulu-Natal-born politician, questioned whether Steenhuisen is being removed simply because farmers are unhappy or if it is due to a lack of effectiveness in the role. These are questions that Hill-Lewis will ultimately have to answer.
As the new ministers and deputy ministers are sworn in, the political landscape of the GNU continues to evolve, setting a precedent for how coalition partners will navigate executive power in South Africa’s new political era.
