Ramaphosa weighs DA reshuffle request as voter registration drive continues

President Cyril Ramaphosa said he is still considering a request from the Democratic Alliance as he continued campaigning during the voter registration weekend, according to IOL. The president took his voter registration drive to Tshwane on Sunday after visiting Katlehong on Saturday.

What Ramaphosa said about the DA request

According to IOL, Ramaphosa revealed he was “applying his mind” to the DA’s request to recall John Steenhuisen from cabinet duties. The article says the DA had removed John Steenhuisen from his post as Minister of Agriculture and demoted him to deputy minister, and that the reshuffle was orchestrated by the DA’s current leader, Geordin Hill-Lewis, as part of a strategy to optimise the party’s representation in the Government of National Unity (GNU).

Ramaphosa reiterated the constitutional basis for ministerial appointments, saying,

“The ministers that the President appoints are the appointees of the President. In terms of our constitution, only the President appoints ministers.”

IOL reports he stressed that suggestions from coalition partners are just thatsuggestionsand that he would take time to consider the DA’s request.

Voter registration campaign

During the voter registration weekend, Ramaphosa visited the Katlehong Technical School Voting District on Saturday and urged young people and first-time voters to register and check their details ahead of the anticipated 2026 local government elections, IOL reports.

Also quoted by IOL, the president emphasised the role of youth engagement:

“This weekend is voter registration week, and I would like to call on all people in our country to go and register to vote, especially ANC members. There is a massive groundswell of young people coming to register to vote. I think that this is very positive.”

The article adds that as the registration weekend progresses, Ramaphosa continued campaigning in Tshwane.

Why it matters

According to IOL, the president framed active participation as central to democracy, saying,

“Active participation remains the foundation of our democracy and the key to building better communities.”