Ramaphosa's cabinet scandals and the collapse of credible leadership
Cyril Ramaphosa
FILE: President Cyril Ramaphosa at the first day of the Police Summit held at Emperors Palace in Kempton Park, Johannesburg on 8 April 2025. Picture: Katlego Jiyane/EWN
President Ramaphosa's decision to fire DA deputy minister of Trade Industry and Competition Andrew Whitfield for travelling abroad without permission was followed by the inevitable melodrama of 'will they (the DA) or won't they' leave the GNU? In the end, we heard that the DA was not leaving the GNU but it would not be part of the National Dialogue, convened by Ramaphosa and it would not vote in favour of corrupt ministers' budgets. On the National Dialogue scheduled for 15 August, it is hard to understand what a National Dialogue held in one day will achieve. After all, we understand our challenges very well and South Africans, being as loud and cacophonous as we are and thanks to our free press, are able to document our travails very well.What we need is action – the right prescription, however. 15 August is likely to be a mishmash of 'rainbowism' (from our beloved sporting heroes) with everything but the kitchen sink thrown in between.This was in fact the dialogue coalition partners ought to have had prior to forming the GNU. Granted there was not the luxury of time but the reason the GNU keeps faltering is because its strategy and goals have been unclear from the start.The action our country needs must come, primarily, from our inert President. But, far be it from Ramaphosa to take on anything thorny or difficult. His cabinet reads a little like a Rogues' Gallery, in parts.
Where to start? Allegations swirl around Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, minister in the Presidency who for some reason seems to have the President's ear- she is being investigated by the Hawks for 'what a judge called a 'repugnant and devastating' tender awarded during her tenure as municipal manager of the Ba-Phalaborwa Municipality.'
In addition to allegations of corruption, Ntshavheni has also shown herself comfortable using xenophobic rhetoric. Since last year serious allegations related to VBS bank corruption have been reported against minister Thembi Simelane. Simelane was the mayor of Polokwane between 2014 and 2021 and was appointed as justice minister in July 2024. Her appearance before Parliament about alleged corrupt activities left more questions than answers. If the allegations are true, she would have been party to the VBS scam which was a crime against the poorest in our country.Yet, despite repeated calls for her removal, Ramaphosa simply moved her from Justice and Constitutional Development to take up the position of Human settlements minister in December 2024. What a travesty. Presumably Ramaphosa believes the poor, desperate for housing, deserve a minister with a cloud of corruption over her head.While the spat about Whitfield was continuing, Gayton McKenzie, minister of Sports Arts and Culture was mouthing off on social media in defence of Ramaphosa's decision. Ramaphosa turned a blind eye to McKenzie's xenophobic comments just weeks earlier when, while addressing the chairpersons and CEOs of all Department of Sport, Arts and Culture entities – including museums, theatres and heritage and funding agencies, he launched into an attack on 'foreigners' in South Africa. A large grouping of civil society organisations has called McKenzie's remarks, 'vulgar', in a statement released on 20 May McKenzie, who has said that he is eyeing the Presidency (we should be concerned about this given some by-election results and the global trend towards populism), also threatened to 'shut down' the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation. Since our passive President has not acted against McKenzie's menacing comments against civil society and his illegal pronouncements against government entities, we must assume that these comments represent the GNU he leads. In addition, allegations of corruption have been levelled against McKenzie in the past week after his son's purchase of a SuperSport United's PSL status.Who can be surprised that McKenzie is now emboldened in his base conduct? After all, Ramaphosa knew that McKenzie was a corrupt xenophobe when he asked him to join his cabinet.
Yet, he remains, representing and embarrassing our country both here and abroad.
But in South Africa there is always more. While the Whitfield matter reared its head, Minister of Higher Education, Nobuhle Nkabane was facing serious 'allegations of corruption, misleading Parliament and making political appointments to the boards of Sector Education and Training Authorities (Setas).
Sasco president Alungile Kamtshe has also called for her removal, yet the President has been unmoved and the ANC has defended Nkabane. Compounding Ramaphosa's challenges, on Sunday Lieutenant -General Mkhwanazi, Kwa-Zulu-Natal Police Commissioner made damning allegations against the Minister of Police, Senzo Mchunu in essence claiming he is in cahoots with criminals. He also cited WhatsApp exchanges which implicate the minister, senior law enforcement officials as well as members of the judiciary in Gauteng. Who is to know exactly where the truth lies in a country used to politicians in bed with all manner of criminals? Mchunu has issued various blanket denials.At the very least, the allegations show serious divisions between the minister, a powerful regional commissioner and the broader Police service. At worst it represents an attack on the democratic state and the rule of law. No South African can feel safer or more comforted after the President's statement. In fact, quite the opposite.
The corruption and dysfunction run deep within our police structures and ordinary citizens are the casualties (literally) in a country with levels of crime which are completely out of control. The social contract has been broken and only concerted effort will fix things.
The President was driven to make a statement about this matter from Brazil, where he was attending a BRICS meeting. Both his and the ANC's statements were bland with the Presidency now announcing an address to the nation on Sunday evening. Quite where that leaves us, only time will tell.
Will the President act on the Mchunu allegations and use Sunday evening's announcement as the opportunity to clean out his cabinet? Or, will he, as he has throughout his Presidency, put party above country by acceding to ministers in crucial portfolios who have not properly answered the serious allegations of corruption against them? Their presence in powerful positions is a threat to the rule of law and undermines whatever confidence citizens have in government. But firing rogue ministers would mean that Ramaphosa would have to take on some powerful forces within his own party.
He has repeatedly shown that he does not have the stomach for that, instead preferring to warm the seat of power, while stepping back from his responsibility to protect and defend the constitution, or take important decisions on the economy, for that matter.
Early on in his Presidency when goodwill from business and civil society towards him was at its highest, South Africa having endured a decade of state capture's nightmare, Ramaphosa chose to squander that goodwill and a rare opportunity for a whole-of-society effort to reclaim our country. Instead his gaze was on the unfixable ANC.
So, no National Dialogue will help the President grow a spine to do what is needed, no National Dialogue will convince South Africans that we have a president who is willing to expend his political capital (such as it is) in the interests of the country. Instead there will be more grinning photo-ops on a 'feel-good' day.It will, no doubt be interspersed with those attending who hold earnest intentions to improve the socio-economic conditions in our country and who understand that ever-increasing unemployment, a fraying social fabric and deepening inequality are a danger to democracy.
But that cannot address the leadership vacuum this President leaves. If Ramaphosa wants to lead with conviction, he needs to make some unpopular decisions. That is how one saves a country.
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