Lead or else, ANC cautions Ramaphosa over electricity crisis:
ANC secretary general Fikile Mbalula has sent a strong warning to President Cyril Ramaphosa to lead more effectively, following recent reports that his cabinet ministers are engaged in a war over electricity generation.
During a media briefing on Friday, Mbalula said Ramaphosa must lead or the ruling party would “deal with him”.
The Mail & Guardian recently reported that Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe had challenged Ramaphosa to fire him after exposing the president’s plans to transfer some of his ministerial powers to his counterpart in the new electricity portfolio, Kgosientsho Ramokgopa.
Ramokgopa is said to have raised his frustration about being hamstrung by there being two ministries charged with energy with Ramaphosa.
During a cabinet meeting this week, Ramokgopa presented plans requiring that some of Mantashe’s and Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan’s powers be moved to his portfolio to help him effectively perform his job of responding to South Africa’s electricity crisis. He was, however, shown the door by Gordhan and Mantashe who told him to refer his proposal to the national energy crisis committee which reports directly to the president.
Both ministers were instrumental in Ramaphosa securing another term as ANC president and both have been labelled as de facto prime ministers at some stage or another.
The Mail & Guardian has learned that Ramokgopa also warned the cabinet that the country was facing stage eight load shedding this winter.
The battle for control of energy is expected to take centre stage at the governing party’s national executive committee meeting which commenced on Friday morning. Ramokgopa is slated to make a presentation during which he will probably try to rally support for his mission to extend his powers.
Mbalula, who has been a Ramaphosa ally since the 2017 ANC elective conference that first brought Ramaphosa to power, left journalists shell shocked when he took a firm stance against the party president.
“We are not interested in fighting territorial battles. Anyone who is doing that, the ANC will deal with them,” Mbalula said. “We didn’t appoint the electricity minister to struggle for powers for whatever he wants. We want a working relationship that intervenes. If there is any of that, we will brief you on Tuesday or Wednesday [on] what is the attitude of the ANC.”
His comments suggest that Ramokgopa has support from one of the top seven leaders in the party. Should he gain further support, an exchange of ministerial powers would jeopardise the already vulnerable alliance between party chair Mantashe and Ramaphosa.
Mbalula said the ANC would give Ramaphosa “marching orders” to intervene in the territorial war in his cabinet.
“He can’t allow anarchy at this moment when you have got to keep the lights on. In his cabinet he must decide — we have given him a mandate and South Africa supports the minister of electricity to deal with load-shedding. We expect the president to run his cabinet and not have his cabinet run him. If he [Ramaphosa] has got a problem, then we will have a problem with him,” he said.
Ramaphosa could not allow media reports suggesting there was a rift in his cabinet to control the public narrative.
“That must be clear. It will be even clearer in this meeting. We can’t come to the public and to you [the media] and tell you that the government we run is confused about what Ramokgopa needs to do,” he said.
“The president is the CEO of the country. He must give direction and that mandate we have given him. We are meeting here and we will get a report.
“South Africans are not interested in territorial battles. We are interested in what we can do to increase generational capacity in the country in the shortest possible time to deal with electricity and keep the lights on.”
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Designers to watch at SAFW 2023:
South Africa’s most promising designers are showcasing their Spring/Summer 2023 collections at South African Fashion Week (SAFW) for three days until Saturday, 22 April.
For its 26th year, SAFW will present this season’s best designer pieces from 39 collections over 11 shows at Johannesburg’s Mall of Africa.
Of the designers showcasing their work, there are a few whose unique perspectives, visual storytelling and consistency in delivering beautiful, wearable garments make them stand out.
Fikile Sokhulu
Last season, Durban-based designer Fikile Zamagcino Sokhulu showed South Africa what it means to combine concept and culture in clothing that excites. Her collection, titled Black Diamond, was a procession of wearable ruffles, cinched waists and tasteful gold lamé, paired with neutrals.
Along with her cohort of young designers, Sokhulu is a champion of sustainability in the clothing industry. She uses her knowledge of how fabric is produced to choose locally sourced cottons, works closely with her CMT team (cut, make and trim), and is aware of the environmental impact of discarded clothing.
Sokhulu’s signature ruffles and multi-tiered garments landed her brand a spot on the British Council’s Creative DNA: Africa programme, where she joined seven other designers from the continent during London Fashion Week in February.
Boyde
As fashion’s pursuit of tasteful, yet playful, minimalism continues, Johannesburg’s Samkelo Boyde Xaba’s label Boyde stands out. Boyde’s pared-down range is crisp and clean, from their T-shirts to their outerwear.
The pieces take geometric inspiration from contemporary furniture and architecture, a common thread among streetwear labels. The thing about Boyde is the garments are architecturally ambiguous as they are not tied to any specific design style but are everyday classic, casual pieces.
Artclub and Friends
Artclub and Friends by Robyn Keyser produces creative, genderless pieces that stand the test of time. Notably, Artclub and Friends is one of the few South African labels that produces clothing, accessories, as well as shoes, in a sustainable fashion. This season, the Public Eye collection brings footwear by Nike to their show.
“Public Eye speaks to the process and experience of being an artist in the hyper-connected, hyper-visible internet era. It exists to acknowledge the bravery and vulnerability it takes to see this through,” says Keyser.
Artclub and Friends’s narrow colour palette is anything but boring or repetitive, but casts a signature hue over their collections through black, white and pops of cobalt blue. The “made for artists, by artists” ethos is a salute to local creatives in each collection that sports their famous overalls, trench coats and “a” monogrammed socks.
Ephymol
Soweto-born Ephraim Molingoana, the designer behind Ephymol, is a SAFW veteran who participated in his first show in 2002. His garments bring 1950s Sophiatown-inspired bold tailoring to the present. Ephymol’s overarching signature is a “rags-to-riches” vibe.
For the last few seasons, Molingoana’s collections have reflected how those living in Soweto’s hostels embrace patchwork, mending and recycling — a theme major fashion labels are only recently embracing.
For today’s menswear renaissance, perhaps folk should look to Ephymol for those jazzier ensembles, that are daringly rich in colour, silhouette and print. Molingoana’s Autumn/Winter 2023 collection was a nod to contemporary fashion audiences, with gender-fluid pieces that achieve a timeless aesthetic.
South African Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2023 runs until 22 April, at Mall of Africa, Johannesburg.
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