General: Mokonyane to become National Assembly ‘chair of chairs’?

Precisely when ANC MP Nomvula Mokonyane will relinquish her position as Minister of Environmental Affairs to assume the mantle of ‘chairperson of chairpersons of committees’ in the National Assembly is anybody’s guess. Nominated for the role on Monday, she is likely to be formally elected later today. Writing for the Daily Maverick, Marianne Merten describes the Minister’s impending new responsibilities as overseeing and directing the work of committees, which includes processing legislation and allocating ‘resources for oversight’. ‘It’s a powerful position,’ Merten continues: one that comes with the authority to close committee meetings to members of the public in terms of section 59 of the Constitution. In fact, this is only if such a move is deemed ‘reasonable and justifiable … in an open and democratic society’ (sub-section 59(2)).

According to Merten, supporters of President Cyril Ramaphosa elected on Monday to serve in the House ‘clinched’ the top political leadership positions of Speaker (Thandi Modise) and ANC Chief Whip (Pemmy Majodina). By contrast, Mokonyane is ‘associated’ with secretary-general Ace Magashule’s ‘radical economic transformation rhetoric’. This notwithstanding, in Merten’s view, as ‘chair of chairs’ she will ‘hold formidable sway’ in committees central to Parliament’s work – although ‘it remains to be seen how the factional chips fall when … committee chairs are announced’. The list of ANC candidates for the top eight parliamentary positions was confirmed in a media statement the first page of which was posted on Twitter. Only Facebook account holders can access the second page. 

Meanwhile, amid mounting speculation about the President’s choice of new Cabinet members and a possible reshuffle of any remaining from the previous administration, Mokonyane’s removal is apparently perceived as Ramaphosa’s ‘first step towards a Cabinet clean-up’ (Engineering News). This is noting accusations levelled against the Minister during the Zondo Commission of Inquiry into State Capture. In an insightful opinion piece (Politicsweb) on the possible composition of Ramaphosa’s next Cabinet, FW de Klerk Foundation executive director Theuns Eloff suggests there may be ‘a surprise or two from outside Parliament, or even outside the ANC’. Section 91(3)(c) of the Constitution provides for ‘no more than two Ministers from outside the Assembly’, which Eloff believes could open the door to private sector appointees with the necessary skills and experience to ‘manage the economy well’.

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