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JOHANNESBURG. – The ANC Youth League says it is disappointed with President Cyril Ramaphosa’s new Cabinet, because he has left young people behind.

President Ramaphosa addressed the nation late on Monday night announcing changes to the national executive, this included the return of former ministers Pravin Gordhan, Nhlanhla Nene and Blade Nzimande.

His deputy in the ANC David “DD” Mabuza was also sworn in as a Member of Parliament yesterday, and would become the deputy president of the country.

Although President Ramaphosa got rid of most ministers linked to state capture project – which saw the Gupta family accused of using its undue influence over former president Jacob Zuma to siphon money from South Africa – he retained one former Youth League leader.

President Ramaphosa moved Malusi Gigaba (dubbed the architect of state capture by the EFF) from the Treasury back to the Department of Home Affairs, but this has not gone far enough to satisfy the league.

“We are disappointed in the reshuffle. It did not take the future into consideration,” said ANCYL secretary general Njabulo Nzuza.

He told News24 that young people needed to be exposed to the challenges of being leaders in the country and that President Ramaphosa had denied them that.

“Not too long ago, we were celebrating getting into the leadership of the ANC,” said Nzuza, explaining that some gains had been made at the ANC’s December national elective conference, which saw the likes of Ronald Lamola and the Youth League’s president Collen Maine elected onto its national executive committee.

“The interests of the youth remain on the sidelines, they are not taken seriously,” complained Nzuza.

He added that the youth needed to unite and fight the ANC on the matter.

When asked if they had spoken to the party’s new leadership on the issue before Ramaphosa announced his new Cabinet, Nzuza said the president had attended a Youth League NEC over the weekend.

“We shared our sentiments with the president when he came to our NEC,” said Nzuza.

He pointed out that it was an ANC congress resolution to have a 20 percent youth representation in leadership structures, which he said Zuma had previously adhered to.

“We had it in the lead up to local government elections and have had our former leaders in previous Cabinets, with (Fikile) Mbalula, Malusi Gigaba, Bongani Mkongi and Thandi Mahambehlala,” said Nzuza.

He said the league would share its views on the reshuffle with the ANC’s top leadership.This is a transitional Meanwhile, President Ramaphosa says his new Cabinet should be seen as a “transitional” Cabinet.

Speaking to eNCA journalist Annika Larsen outside the Old Assembly chamber yesterday morning, shortly before addressing the House of Traditional Leaders, President Ramaphosa claimed he did not have to compromise on its composition.

“No, no, this is a transitional Cabinet. It is the Cabinet that will take us to the next elections.

“That’s how people should see it, and it is a very strong Cabinet. It takes into account the strengths we have in government and we have some really good people.

“I’d like to give them a chance and give them an opportunity. I’m hoping… they will take us forward, so South Africa is moving forward with this Cabinet.”

President Ramaphosa said the leadership of the ANC was still coming up with proposals for the reconfiguration of a new Cabinet.

He promised during his State of the Nation Address that he would review the size and configuration of his Cabinet after consultation with many stakeholders, including opposition parties.

According to a Reuters report, President Ramaphosa also said yesterday that land reform needed to be attended to “immediately” and the government was starting talks with the mining sector over a new version of an industry charter.

“I can say now that this matter needs to be attended to immediately, with the greatest of urgency,” Ramaphosa told traditional leaders on the land issue at a meeting in parliament after he made changes to his cabinet on Monday night.

New deputy president David Mabuza, and new Cabinet ministers and deputy ministers who have not served before, were yesterday sworn in the Good Hope chamber in Parliament.

The four members who must first be sworn in as Members of Parliament before taking their executive oaths include Mabuza, new Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Zweli Mkhize, new International Relations and Cooperation Deputy Minister Reginah Mhaule, and returning Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene.

That process happened in a closed meeting in the Speaker’s office. – News24/HR