New Cabinet, new brooms - but how clean will they sweep?
THE line from the William Shakespeare's play, As You Like
It, "An ill-favoured thing sir, but mine own" might very well have been President Cyril Ramaphosa's thoughts as he announced his administration and the seventh cabinet of the Republic of South Africa.
The line literally means that it may not be good, but it's the best I can offer for it is true that "you can't make an omelette without breaking eggs".
Through weeks of wrangling, horse-trading, anxiety and possibly high-pitched voices since the May 29 national and provincial elections, South Africa can start to be governed again by the most unlikely crop of cabinet ministers and deputy ministers.
There will be criticisms, praises, disagreements and possible upheaval as the days go by, but what is certain is that we are in uncertain territory for the first time in 30 years of democracy.
The cliche, time will tell, is now of critical importance as the new breed of ministers begin their onerous task of revamping a country deep in the throes of a steady decline and I suspect that there will be both trepidation and a state of disquietude - as we all stand on the precipice of unbridled anticipation of a truly new South Africa - of course, in a different way.
Whatever and however the agreements were decided upon, one thing is certain - that no minister in this administration will be spared should there be no tangible and realisable change that will improve the lives of the people of this country, considering the vociferous demand for change prior to the elections.
We must be mindful that the GNU was necessitated by the voices of the people albeit only 59% of the total voting electorate, in which the once almost invincible ANC succumbed to mediocrity, incompetence and corruption thereby enabling an agreement that is as fragile as the strongest porcelain vase in any cabinet.
The ministers emanate from political parties that had some fundamental and ideological differences in how they perceive governance to occur - and some differences were so deeply entrenched that they had become sworn enemies to each other.
But for the time being, all is forgiven - and reins have been strapped onto a new reign.
What must be clearly understood is that it will not be party time any longer - serious governance has to happen and this new orchestra will have to sing in concert because the reality is that each partner in this new alliance will have to vote on legislation to be promulgated in the months and years ahead - and the question begs, if they have fundamental reservations on a particular piece of legislation, will they forego principle, desert their manifestos and their voting fodder on which they fought the elections on and yield to the coalition agreements?
The fragility of the coalition making up the GNU will largely depend on the maturity, genuine resolve and the unfettered committment of those appointed to take charge and deliver much needed change, to re-engineer failed or failing ministries and to ensure that the people are served without fear or favour and this is no mean feat, all things considered. NARENDH GANESH | Durban North