Key Takeaways:
- President Cyril Ramaphosa has stated that he has no intention of holding a referendum on the secession of any part of South Africa.
- The Constitution obliges the president to defend the unity of the nation and promote national unity.
- Ramaphosa has signed performance agreements with ministers, which include the delegation of responsibilities to deputy ministers.
- The president has stated that ministers will be held responsible for delegating responsibilities to deputy ministers during performance review engagements.
- There is no record kept of members of Cabinet who hold dual citizenship, as it is not a requirement for appointment.
Introduction to the President’s Statement
President Cyril Ramaphosa has given a clear indication that he has no intention of holding a referendum to test public opinion on the secession of any part of South Africa. This statement was made in response to parliamentary questions from EFF MP Thapelo Mogale, who asked whether the president intends to hold a referendum on the secession of the Western Cape, the creation of a Volkstaat for Afrikaners, and Western Cape independence. Ramaphosa’s response was firm, stating that the founding provisions of the Constitution declare the Republic of South Africa to be one, sovereign, democratic state.
The Constitution and National Unity
The president’s statement was based on the constitutional responsibility to uphold, defend, and respect the Constitution as the supreme law of the Republic and to promote the unity of the nation. Ramaphosa emphasized that he has no intention of considering a proposal or holding a referendum on the secession of any part of the country. This stance is in line with the Constitution, which obliges the president to defend the unity of the nation and promote national unity. The president also stated that he has not been lobbied by any component of the Government of National Unity on the matter of secession.
Deputy Ministers and Their Roles
In a separate matter, Ramaphosa responded to questions from EFF leader Julius Malema regarding the roles and responsibilities of deputy ministers. Malema asked about the delegated authority and performance agreements of deputy ministers, as well as consequence management measures for ministers who fail to delegate official duties to their deputy ministers. Ramaphosa explained that he has signed performance agreements with ministers, which include the delegation of responsibilities to deputy ministers. The president stated that the delegations to deputy ministers are the responsibility of ministers and that ministers will be held responsible for this during performance review engagements.
Performance Agreements and Consequence Management
Ramaphosa further explained that the performance agreements signed between the president and ministers contain an indicator that requires the delegation of responsibilities by the minister to the deputy minister. The president stated that signed delegations are used as evidence of completion and that ministers will be held responsible for delegating responsibilities to deputy ministers during performance review engagements. The president also mentioned that it is his prerogative to determine the appropriate sanction for ministers who fail to delegate responsibilities to their deputy ministers.
Dual Citizenship and Cabinet Appointments
In another development, Ramaphosa was asked about the number of members of the Cabinet who hold dual citizenship. The president stated that there is no record kept of members of Cabinet who hold dual citizenship, as the issue of dual citizenship does not play a role in the appointment of members of Cabinet. According to Section 47(1) of the Constitution, every citizen of the Republic of South Africa who is qualified to vote for the National Assembly and who is not disqualified by the Constitution can be a member of the National Assembly and, by extension, can be appointed as a minister.
Vetting of Cabinet Members
Ramaphosa also responded to questions regarding the vetting of Cabinet members before their appointment. The president stated that the Constitution does not require members of Cabinet to be vetted and cleared by the State Security Agency before they are appointed by the president. According to Section 47(1) of the Constitution, every citizen of the Republic of South Africa who is eligible to be a member of the National Assembly and who is not disqualified by the Constitution can be a member of the National Assembly and, by extension, can be appointed as a minister. Ramaphosa added that all ministers who are currently serving in the Cabinet qualified to be ministers according to the Constitution.
