CAPE TOWN, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) -- Former African Union (AU) Commission Chairwoman Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma was sworn in as a new Member of Parliament (MP) in South Africa on Thursday amid speculations that she would be promoted to a cabinet position.
Dlamini-Zuma will immediately undergo an induction program and be provided with all necessary tools of trade to assist her with carrying out her parliamentary duties without delay, parliamentary spokesperson Moloto Mothapo said.
It has been widely speculated that the deployment of Dlamini-Zuma in Parliament would be used as a springboard to propel her to a cabinet position in an imminent cabinet reshuffle.
However, Dlamini-Zuma, emerging from the swearing ceremony, told reporters that she had no idea of a cabinet reshuffle.
"As far as I'm concerned, I'm coming as a Member of Parliament. I've been sworn in. That's all I know," Dlamini-Zuma said.
Dlamini-Zuma is seen as President Jacob Zuma's preferred successor during the 2019 general elections.
Dlamini-Zuma's elevation to MP and likely a cabinet minister seems to be a carefully orchestrated move to buttress her presidential campaign, the opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) said in a statement.
"It amounts to nothing less than state resources being used to support a candidate for the ANC presidency," DA Chief Whip John Steenhuisen said.
The decision to send Dlamini-Zuma to Parliament also seems to precipitate yet another cabinet reshuffle, according to the DA.
Those members of Zuma's cabinet who were outspoken against Zuma, and those who belong to the rebellious South African Communist Party (SACP), are certain to be fired by Zuma in the cabinet reshuffle, the DA said. Enditem
