David Mabuza looks set to be reappointed as South Africa\u2019s deputy president after the ruling African National Congress said he would be appointed as a lawmaker, a blow to national leader Cyril Ramaphosa\u2019s drive to clean up the image of his party.<\/p>\n
Mabuza was second in priority behind Ramaphosa on the ANC\u2019s list of candidate lawmakers ahead of May 8 elections, which the party won outright.<\/p>\n
While most lawmakers were sworn in last week, Mabuza asked for his appointment to the legislature to be postponed as he fended off accusations from the ANC\u2019s integrity committee that he\u2019d brought the party into disrepute.<\/p>\n
That led to speculation he would be replaced as deputy president, as to hold the post one must be a lawmaker.<\/p>\n
Ramaphosa, who was inaugurated for a five-year term on May 25, is due to name his new cabinet later this week and is under pressure to rid the executive of individuals tainted by corruption allegations.<\/p>\n
Under the constitution, his deputy must be selected from the ranks of the 400 lawmakers in the National Assembly. The rand rallied on May 22 when the news broke that Mabuza may be ineligible to take up the position.<\/p>\n
Mabuza\u2019s swearing-in will take place in the capital, Pretoria, on Tuesday, Nonceba Mhlauli, a spokeswoman for the ANC\u2019s parliamentary caucus, said in a text message.<\/p>\n
A former schoolteacher, Mabuza, 58, was linked to a succession of scandals while he served as premier of the eastern Mpumalanga province, ranging from accusations that he helped to rig internal party votes and state tenders to having his opponents silenced and even assassinated.<\/p>\n
Mabuza denied the allegations and has never been charged. Still, his reappointment could set back Ramaphosa\u2019s efforts to repair the reputational damage to the party after his predecessor Jacob Zuma\u2019s scandal-marred nine-year rule.<\/p>\n
Ramaphosa initially favored former Higher Education Minister Naledi Pandor or former International Relations Minister Lindiwe Sisulu to be his deputy, but gave the post to Mabuza who won the deputy leadership of the ruling party in December 2017 and helped him secure the top post.<\/p>\n
While appointments to the cabinet are the president\u2019s prerogative, Ramaphosa will probably consult the ANC\u2019s top leaders and its alliance members, the South African Congress of Trade Unions and the South African Communist Party, before appointing the new executive.<\/p>\n
The ANC requested its integrity committee to look into the suitability of all proposed lawmakers. While the body can make recommendations to the party, its decisions aren\u2019t binding.<\/p>\n