Ramaphosa’s Cabinet adjustment to be considered in court after MK Party arguments

President Cyril Ramaphosa’s adjustments to the executive will be considered by a Pretoria High Court bench following a day of arguments brought by the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party.

On Thursday, the court heard the challenge by the party and its leader, Jacob Zuma, over Ramaphosa’s decision to appoint Firoz Cachalia as acting police minister and place Senzo Mchunu on special leave.

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The party argues that Ramaphosa’s move was unlawful and they have also challenged the establishment of the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry.

One of the arguments by the MK Party and Zuma is that Ramaphosa cannot set up a judicial commission of inquiry to investigate the allegations that KwaZulu-Natal top cop Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi made because they are against the judidciary.

“What you cannot do is to appoint the deputy head nogal of the judiciary, just like you cannot appoint the deputy head of Ekurhuleni metro,”said Zuma’s lawyer- Dali Mpofu

Zuma has also taken issue with Mchunu’s fate being left to the outcome of the Madlanga Commission

“The Madlanga Commission must not be mistaken for the Mchunu inquiry. It is not like the Chauke inquiry that is taking place right now, chaired by Justice Nkabine, whose function is to look into the culpability.”

The MK Party believes that there is no rational link between placing Mchunu on special leave and the outcomes of the Madlanga Commission, because the ministers who were implicated in corruption in the Zondo commission continue to occupy ministerial positions.

Judgement in the matter has been reserved, and the full bench will inform the parties once a decision has been made.