A long-anticipated cabinet reshuffle will take place tonight at 19:00 says presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya.

Magwenya made the announcement during a media briefing yesterday where media reports and public discussion surrounding President Cyril Ramaphosa’s schedule and health during the past week were addressed.

“Having exercised his constitutional prerogative, the president will announce the new national executive tonight. This will reinforce government’s focus – as the president said in the Sona – on those actions that will make a meaningful difference now, that will enable real progress within the next year and that will lay a foundation for a sustained recovery into the future,” Magwenya said.

He quelled media reports and speculation on social media that a cabinet reshuffle announcement last Thursday was postponed by Ramaphosa due to ill health, saying the president has attended to his duties while treating a common cold, throughout the past week.

Magwenya said the president’s discomfort was visible during his public appearances as part of the state visit by his Ugandan counterpart president Yoweri Museveni.

“Among the tasks the president undertook this week was continued consultation around forthcoming changes to the national executive. But contrary to media coverage and speculation on social platforms, there was no plan for the president to announce changes to cabinet on Thursday.”

Magwenya told the media that on Friday, President Ramaphosa honoured an engagement of the Ntaba Nyoni Cattle Stud, a dinner preceding an annual auction. He said the dates for these events were scheduled several months ago.

“In view of his discomfort, the president made a brief stop at Friday’s dinner – to greet guests. President Ramaphosa did not attend the auction itself the following day as his cold persisted and required that he should rest.

“The accusations and misinformation we have seen around this matter are therefore completely unjustified,” Magwenya said.

While the president is still not fully recovered, Magwenya said that he is finalising his reconfiguration of the national executive.

He explained that parliamentary processes such as the swearing in of certain members of parliament needed to be considered while the president was finalising the formation of the executive.

“The president appreciates the importance of putting in place a national executive that will build on the commitments government has made for faster growth through our investment drive, economic reforms, public employment programmes and an expanding infrastructure programme,” he said.

The presidential spokesperson emphasised that Ramaphosa is fully seized with and committed to his oath of office and the day-to-day tasks of leading the nation out of the difficulties the country faces. – SAnews.gov.za