Fire 'Nkandla' ministers

PRESIDENT Jacob Zuma has chosen his new executive, complete with promotions and demotions. I am disappointed that the president retained all the Nkandlagate ministers.

If he was misled, as we believe, then Thulas Nxesi, Jeff Radebe, Nathi Mthethwa, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula and Siyabonga Cwele should have been fired. Retaining these ministers only makes justification of Nkandla even more difficult.

I refuse to justify Nkandla and will continue to criticise anyone associated with the project. Anyone who did door to door campaigns in South Africa knows that this issue was raised as one of the reasons why people would not be voting for the ANC.

To ignore it then and reappoint the ministers is an insult to the voters and they will punish us. We need to stop undermining the electorate.

These individuals are not bigger than the ANC and must go!

Having made my disappointment known, I also have to express my joy at the appointment of cadres such as Naledi Pandor, Aaron Motsoaledi, Nhlanhla Nene, Lindiwe Sisulu, Ngoako Ramathlodi, Angie Motshekga, Lindiwe Zulu and others. But how do we retain Tina Joemat-Peterssen?

How do we leave Thoko Didiza out of the cabinet? Nonetheless, I believe Didiza and Paul Mashatile will ensure we have a stronger caucus that will hold the cabinet to account.

Zuma has done so well to appoint a strong cluster of service delivery ministers (Pravin Gordhan, Collins Chabane, Sisulu, Bathabile Dlamini and Cwele).

There were progressive appointments in the Finance and Treasury Ministry with Nene and Mcebisi Jonas. Let me congratulate Jonas as deputy minister, a Uitenhage born comrade of the Nelson Mandela Bay region.

Rev Dr Xolani Tengo, head of Idamasa research and spokesman, Port Elizabeth