ANC defends decision to keep veteran ministers for 'continuity'

Potgieter was part of the negotiating team that formed the national unity cabinet, which President Cyril Ramaphosa announced on Sunday.

Ramaphosa introduced significant changes among the ANC members, bringing in a few younger members from the party's ranks alongside some seasoned leaders.

The ministers who will continue to serve in the cabinet include Gwede Mantashe as Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, Blade Nzimande as Minister of Science and Innovation, and Angie Motshekga as Minister of Defence and Military Veterans.

Potgieter believes veteran ministers’ experience in government is crucial. 

"I think the objective of any government is to make sure that you maintain continuity and change. The president has brought in a lot of young, vibrant faces from across parties. 

“At the same time, he ensured that there is continuity. For example, Deputy Minister Njabulo fits both criteria because he is young. He is below 40, but at the same time, he was the deputy minister of home affairs before, so he knows the area very intimately. 

"I recognise that we are a society of just different generations and therefore making sure that you use the best of different generations, but I think that the fact that we have a lot of young people from different parties is really a great task because they are also building the next generation of political leadership that has experience.”

Potgieter said that despite the extended negotiations to form the cabinet, the parties managed to find each other on key priorities.

The new cabinet was announced on Sunday after several days of negotiations and discussions among the coalition parties in the government of national unity.

Potgieter pointed to the ANC's experience during the 1994 negotiations as invaluable in this process.

She added that the parties had already established targets aimed at job creation and economic improvement.

"I think that the overwhelming majority of the party are interested in moving South Africa forward, in addressing the triple challenges that we face about how we get the economy growing, how do we create jobs.”

Potgieter has underscored the importance of political management in maintaining cohesion within the government of national unity over the next five years.

The GNU comprises eleven parties, including the DA, ANC, IFP, PAC, and Patriotic Alliance.

Potgieter acknowledged the challenge of uniting parties with differing policies.

She highlighted that the statement of intent is crucial as the primary governing document.

"It brings together that do not necessarily agree, what they do agree about is the urgent challenges facing the nation, and I think all those issues are contained in the statement of intent which all 11 parties have signed into, so I think that is a very powerful basis for working together.” 

ALSO READ: