Newly appointed Defence Minister Angie Motshekga was the first to be sworn in.
Taking the oath under the watch of Zondo, Mashatile promised to devote himself to the wellbeing of the Republic and all its people.
LIVE STREAM| Swearing-in Ceremony of the National Executive:
Senzo Mchunu
Earlier, newly appointed Police Minister Senzo Mchunu said he is ready for the job and wants to tackle some key priority challenges facing South Africa, such as the high murder rate, rape, and hijacking amongst others.
He is taking over from former Police Minister Bheki Cele.
Mchunu says, “Even before we get a substantive presentation from the police, I know that murder is quite high in the country, I know rape is very high, I know car hijackings and I know housebreakings. Those are some of the four top crimes in the country that are worrying the public and therefore I share the concern with the public and I believe it needs a strong hand.”
Chief Justice Raymond Zondo will preside over the swearing-in of the Deputy President, Ministers and deputies at a ceremony in Cape Town.
President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the names of the members of the seventh administration on Sunday evening.
Ramaphosa appointed several members from different political parties, in establishing the Government of National Unity, as no party received an outright majority in the May 29 polls.
The African National Congress (ANC) has 20 Ministers, the Democratic Alliance (DA) six, Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) two, Pan Africanist Congress of Azania(PAC) one, Patriotic Alliance (PA) one, GOOD one and Freedom Front Plus (FF+) one.
The United Democratic Movement (UDM) and Al Jama-ah have one deputy ministerial position each.
Ramaphosa appointed 32 Ministers to his Cabinet, while they have 43 deputies making it the biggest executive arm of the state, yet.
The ANC still makes up the majority of the executive, including the President and Deputy President Paul Mashatile.
The Chief Whip of the African National Congress (ANC) in Parliament, Mdumiseni Ntuli, has withdrawn several motions – including the nomination of MPs to serve on the Judicial Service Commission (JSC).
Also on the agenda, was a motion for the election of House chairpersons and members to be nominated to serve on the Southern African Development Community Parliamentary Forum (SADC PF), which was also withdrawn.
Ntuli informed the House of the withdrawals.
“I wish to withdraw the following motions. Motion number 2, the House of chairpersons, motion number 4 the SADC Parly forum. Third motion I am withdrawing is number 6 which is the election of JSC. The reason for this madam Speaker, is for further consultation,” adds Ntuli.
It was expected that the uMkhonto weSizwe Party would nominate Dr John Hlophe as its candidate to serve on the Judicial Service Commission.
Hlophe, one of the longest serving judges in democratic South Africa, was impeached last year.
Last week, he was sworn in as parliamentary leader for the MK Party.
During the short sitting, MK chief whip Sihle Ngubane raised a belated objection.
“Madam Speaker, I am worried about moving in huge speed. Deferring issues and we are not consulted in issues being deferred and we are not given the option to know on what basis are we deferring issues,” adds Ngubane.
VIDEO | National Assembly’s first sitting since swearing-in ceremony:
Political commentators say the oversight role of Parliament could be ratcheted up, with the introduction of the Government of National Unity.
Ten political parties are now part of the ANC-led GNU.
Traditionally, members of the executive who were predominantly from one party were held accountable by Members of Parliament.
Now that it is a mix of all sorts, how will Parliament conduct one of its core responsibilities – oversight over the executive?
In the past, the ANC – with its majority representation in committees – was accused of pushing legislation through Parliament.
Criticism from the opposition benches was also that committee chairpersons and members from the ANC, shielded government ministers from intensive oversight.
Now that 10 out of the 18 parties represented in the National Assembly are governing together, what will accountability look like?
Dr Piet Croucamp, a political analyst from North-West University, says accountability may now actually come through like never before.
“Remember in a Cabinet all members of the Cabinet, no matter their disagreements, they have to take collective responsibility. Well, if you look at cab and constitution, the ANC already has more than 60% of ministers which means, the idea of sufficient consensus, that was so hard negotiated by DA, before they signed is now meaningless actually.”
Croucamp says, “ANC can still make decisions for which DA minister will have to take collective responsibility and that is where the interesting bit comes in. They now have to go to parliament and defend the collective responsibilities of the cabinet, in parliament in committees where they will be confronted by members of their own party.”
“All this makes the political culture of contest and contestation in the legislature and exec much more interesting. I think it’s a significant improvement, it will not be without great difficulties, they will all learn a lot, and they will all learn to make compromises but I think we are now more or less to oversight, where our found mothers and fathers envisaged it to be,” he adds.
Political analysts say with the new Government of National Unity (GNU), Parliament of South Africa can expect more robust debates. https://t.co/y0DTgidZuV
The Director of Programmes at the political advocacy group, Rivonia Circle, Tessa Dooms, agrees that more robust oversight than ever is likely to take place.
“Parties now have access to much more info on how governance unfolds. Before this, it was a tussle between DG, Ministers, and Luthuli House, now many more will debate robustly, if zero-sum approach, only for their own wins, then you will have weakening because that will mean less accountability across lines but I think there is an opportunity for real engagement and real robust accountability measures in cabinet and parliament as well.”
7th Administration | Political analysis of the newly announced GNU cabinet: Dr Sithembile Mbete
The African National Congress (ANC)’s new chief whip, Mdumiseni Ntuli says he is aware that the swearing in of party member Zizi Kodwa could be cause of concern to the South African public. Ntuli spoke to SABC News on a range of issues.
Kodwa was sworn in as ANC MP this week despite having appeared in court on corruption charges just two weeks ago. He had also resigned as minister and ANC National Executive Committee member.
Questions have been asked about whether Kodwa should be an MP, given the ANC’s step-aside rule. Ntuli says the matter is one of a few that the party leadership must clarify.
“I have no doubt in my mind that NEC through officials, at appropriate time, will reflect on decisions, given the fact that people have concerns even in own alliance, take position, that will you know give clarity not only to alliance but to society in general,” Ntuli elaborates.
Video: ANC under fire for the swearing in of corruption accused Zizi Kodwa
On Thursday, the ANC Veterans League criticised the swearing-in of Kodwa to Parliament, stating that it is incomprehensible.
In a letter addressed to ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula, the Veterans League SG Ilva Langa says the decision by the party to allow Kodwa to be sworn in as an MP, is nothing but a misapplication of the step-aside rule.
This is as Kodwa, who is facing corruption charges involving R1.7 million, was released on R30 000 bail after he was implicated in state capture.
Langa says the Veterans League will be proposing that the step-aside guideline be reviewed.
He adds that Kodwa’s personal interests should not be put above that of the ANC.