NATIONAL NEWS -
Ramaphosa has become known for preferring stability over change, unlike the regular reshuffles preferred by his predecessor, Jacob Zuma. However, recent events have made a reshuffle inevitable, and numerous heads are expected to roll along with more predictable changes.
Mkhize was put on special leave after being implicated in a corruption scandal involving his department. He said in his resignation letter that he was leaving to bring greater stability to the health department during the challenging Covid-19 pandemic.
Other changes were set to include a replacement for the late Jackson Mthembu and perhaps a shake-up in the security cluster following last month’s looting and insurrection debacle, which put the defence minister, police minister and state security minister in the possible firing line.
Ramaphosa called a meeting with the ANC top brass on Thursday, with insiders saying the meeting was likely to focus on a cabinet reshuffle.
There has been speculation that even Finance Minister Tito Mboweni was set to be replaced, perhaps by ANC policy stalwart Enoch Godongwana, along with Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation Minister Lindiwe Sisulu.
Presidency spokesperson Tyrone Seale said on Thursday evening: “The president’s address will be broadcast and streamed on a range of platforms that are accessible to South Africans and international audiences.”
After initially being scheduled for 8.30pm, it was then delayed to 9pm, and started beyond even that.
