Speaker, my statement does have something to do with Parliament!
Die VF Plus verwelkom die kabinetskommeling. Die boodskap wat die skommeling aan kabinetslede stuur, is dat hulle moet presteer anders word hulle vervang.
Die algemene indruk is dat die rede vir die skommeling nie net die prestasie van Ministers was nie, maar dat taktiese ANC-oorwegings die hoofrol gespeel het. Die aanstelling van twee voormalige jeugleiers, Fikile Mbalula en Malusi Gigaba, as Ministers, is strategies om die ANC jeug te akkommodeer voor die munisipale verkiesings volgende jaar, waar die jeug 'n belangrike stem sal verteenwoordig.
Goeie presteerders soos Barbara Hogan en Geoff Doidge se afdanking kan nie weens swak prestasie wees nie, maar was waarskynlik eerder om plek te maak vir ander. Siphiwe Nyanda kon nie die mas opkom nie, en sy afdanking was daarom nodig en word verwelkom.
Die skommeling het wel nie een van die politieke faksies binne die ANC gebaat nie, aangesien mnr Trevor Manuel en die ekonomiese groepering nie geskommel is nie.
Of die kabinetskommeling tot beter dienslewering sal lei, sal nog eers bewys moet word. Die VF Plus wil egter maan dat die oorsigrol van die Parlement nie deur hierdie kabinetskommeling benadeel moet word nie. Die ANC moet deeglik oorweging skenk aan geskikte kandidate wat die poste van portefeuljekomiteevoorsitters kan vul, eerder as om oorhaastig aanstellings te maak wat op die lange duur die werk van die Parlement sal benadeel. Dankie. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)
[The FF Plus welcomes the reshuffling of Cabinet. The message the reshuffling sends to Cabinet members is that they must perform or else they will be replaced.
The general impression is that the reason for the reshuffling was not only because of Ministers' performance, but that tactical ANC considerations played the main role. The appointment of two former youth leaders, Fikile Mbalula and Malusi Gigaba, as Ministers, is strategic in order to accommodate the ANC youth before the municipal elections next year, where the youth will represent an important vote.
The dismissal of Ministers who have performed well, like Barbara Hogan and Geoff Doidge, cannot be due to poor performance, but was probably rather to make way for others. Siphiwe Nyanda could not cope, and his dismissal was therefore necessary and is welcomed.
The reshuffling did, however, not favour any of the political factions within the ANC, since Mr Trevor Manuel and the economic grouping was not reshuffled.
Whether the reshuffling of Cabinet will lead to better service delivery, still needs to be proven. The FF Plus would, however, like to caution that Parliament's oversight role should not be impaired by this reshuffling of Cabinet. The ANC should seriously consider suitable candidates who can fill the positions of portfolio committee chairpersons, rather than make hasty appointments that could, in the long run, impair the work of Parliament. Thank you.]