Many politicians are considering their futures and what roles they will play when South Africa’s new government comes into power.

There has been much speculation over who will assume key posts in cabinet and as provincial premiers.

The ANC in Gauteng has submitted the names of Paul Mashatile and current MEC’s Nomvula Mokonyane and Mandla Nkomfe for premier. Mashatile, the incumbent, has received overwhelming support from the ruling party’s alliance partners, trade union federation COSATU and the South African Communist Party.

This indicates that he will not be filling a cabinet position as was previously speculated.

FOCUS TURNS TO PARLIAMENTARY SEATS

The African National Congress’ Head of Policy Jeff Radebe said cabinet ministers would be chosen from the people on its national list.

“One should also remember that the president also has a prerogative to appoint two members who are not members of parliament. That’s how it’s going to be work,” Radebe explained.

The Congress of South African Trade Unions’ General Secretary Zwelinzima Vavi has expressed high hopes for the new cabinet.

“The days of us being marginalised belong to the past and the days of the use of the state institutions to sort out factional battles in the ANC belong to the past. The Cabinet will be very different we hope,” Vavi remarked.

The Congress of the People’s Working Committee will meet on Tuesday to confirm who will take up its 30 seats in parliament.

While it is all but confirmed, Mosiuoa Lekota will not be travelling to Cape Town. But COPE’s Sipho Ngwema has disputed that Mbhazima Shilowa may be turning down his spot in the National Assembly to focus on building the organisation.

“Shilowa is on the list and will be going with Dr [Mvume] Dandala as one of the two people who will be leading MPs to the National Assembly,” Ngwema said.

The Democratic Alliance’s Fritz de Klerk said the party’s Federal Executive will meet on Tuesday.

“It is unclear whether the decision on who goes to parliament will be on that discussion. We will stick to the list that we provided to the IEC and depending on the amount of votes we got in each province people will come to parliament on the basis of that,” de Klerk said.