S. African Pres. Mbeki's new cabinet meets with mixed reactions

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, April 30, 2004

S. African Pres. Mbeki's new cabinet meets with mixed reactions

South African President Thabo Mbeki received both consent and criticism in the first days of his second five-year term of presidency as his new cabinet were sworn in here Thursday.

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South African President Thabo Mbeki received both consent and criticism in the first days of his second five-year term of presidency as his new cabinet were sworn in here Thursday.

Deputy president and 28 ministers took oath in the presidential palace, but two designated deputy ministers from the opposition Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) did not show up at the inauguration ceremony, turning down the offer from President Mbeki.

Mbeki said that he would appoint two other deputy ministers whoare willing to take the oath and serve in his government. Observers here noted that the two designated official declined to take the post in the new cabinet because the IFP leader Manfosuthu Buthelezi was ditched by Mbeki from the post of home affairs minister.

By appointing the 28-people executive on Wednesday, Mbeki not only sacked his political rival, but also retained loyal veterans and remarkably raised women profile as he had promised before.

While Mbeki called his cabinet "a very strong team," Justice Malala, commentator of local newspaper Thisday, accused him of failing to "forge a champion team" with some "failure and serial non-performer players."

Nevertheless, having a cabinet with 43 percent of women ministers may at least make Mbeki a world example of promoting gender equity.

ADDRESSING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN RESHUFFLING

Mbeki's appointment was welcomed for the strength it provides in key economic ministries such as trade and industry, finance andpublic enterprises, which is key to poverty alleviation and unemployment.

As expected, he retained Trevor Manuel, a long-serving finance minister who put in place policies that have led the country's budget deficit to as low as 1.2 percent, and also the lowest inflation in 22 years.

Meanwhile, Mbeki promoted Jabu Moleketi, formerly served in South Africa's economic heartland, Gauteng, to be Manuel's deputy.The capable "rising star" was widely perceived as Manuel's successor.

Manuel's former deputy, Mandisi Mpahlwa, was promoted to be the Trade and Industry Minister to face challenges of retaining South Africa's manufacturing competitiveness in the face of increasing globalization challenges and of developing small- and medium-sizedenterprises, a key to reversing the unemployment rate.

One of the biggest decisions in Mbeki's new cabinet must have been the retention of Minerals and Energy Minister Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka in her current position, which is crucial to the economic development of South Africa.

SACKING RIVAL, BALANCING POLITICAL INTERESTS

The most dramatic change in the new cabinet is the absence of former internal affairs minister Manfosuthu Buthelezi, leader of the Zulu-dominated IFP and a bitter political rival of Mbeki.

"The omission of Buthelezi and the fact that his party has only three deputy ministers' posts have been interpreted as an attempt to isolate Buthelezi," said Wyndham Hartley, a Business Day editor.

In the old cabinet, the IFP had three ministers' posts and two deputies'.

But analysts found Mbeki's desire for a multiparty cabinet came to the force, with the inclusion of three opposition parties - the IFP, the New National Party (NNP), and the Azanian People's Organization (Azapo).

"President Mbeki has clearly been balancing political interests in his executive as well as trying to assemble the best team," said Hartley.

REMARKABLY RAISING WOMEN PROFILE

By retaining nine former ministers and promoting three new, Mbeki now has 12 women ministers in his 28-people cabinet, creating the highest representation of women in the cabinet in the country, and in Africa.

Women also feature strongly in the second layer of the national leadership, with ten of the 21 deputy ministers are women.

In seeking to achieve balance and continuity, Mbeki retained a number of women ministers in crucial positions.

Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, whom many had predicted would be appointed deputy minister, remained as foreign minister, the most powerful woman in South Africa.

Stella Sigcau was retained at Public Works, an important ministry that has to deliver on Mbeki's election promise to spend 15-billion-rand (2.3 billion US dollars) on public works programs in five years to create a million jobs.

Estimates put unemployment in South Africa at 8 million people of the employable sector of the population of 45 million.

Despite strong outrage, Mbeki gave health minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang a massive show of confidence, who is expected to ensure the successful implementation of the national rollout offree HIV/AIDS drugs.

The decision to retain Manto Tshabalala-Msimang has draw Mbeki sharp criticism from the opposition, with Democratic Alliance (DA)leader Tony Leon calling the move a "slap in the face."

Manto Tshabalala-Msimang was widely demanded to be fired since the government has failed to cope with an HIV/AIDS epidemic that has infected about 5.3 million people, or one ninth of the country's population.

It may not be difficult to understand why Mbeki raise women profile in the cabinet so remarkably.

"Our last General Elections confirmed the women as the largest number of voters and the strongest voice in favor of the fundamental social transformation of our country," Mbeki said in his inaugural speech on Tuesday. ��

Source: Xinhua

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