The resignation of president Thabo Mbeki has left the ICT industry wondering whether communications minister Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri and public service and administration minister Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi will also step down.
Both ministers lost their positions on the national executive committee, after the ANC's national conference in Polokwane at the end of last year. Analysts say this was due to the fact Matsepe-Casaburri and Fraser-Moleketi are considered to be part of Mbeki's inner circle.
As early as January, most analysts commented that both ministers' fates were sealed and they would not be brought into the next administration.
Despite comments from other ministers indicating they would leave with Mbeki, Matsepe-Casaburri and Fraser-Moleketi will not reveal whether they too will step down before the end of their term of office.
"Minister for public service and administration, Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi, will not comment on this matter. Should the minister have anything to state, this will be communicated directly to the president of the Republic, Thabo Mbeki, and the president of the African National Congress, Jacob Zuma," says the DPSA's director of media liaison, Ramona Baijnath.
However, she did indicate that should the "status of the matter" change, that information would be communicated.
Joe Makhafola, spokesperson for the Department of Communications, similarly declined to comment.
It's only natural
Political analyst Daniel Silke says it is difficult to speculate on whether the two will resign before the end of their term. "However, the national executive committee has requested that as many ministers stay on as possible, to ensure a smooth transition."
He says it will essentially be a waiting game. There are critical portfolios that will need to stay; however, for the likes of Fraser-Moleketi, this may well be a good time to bow out, adds Silke. "Fraser-Moloketi may see it as a fitting opportunity to announce her resignation."
He says there may be two reasons she would resign now: it may be in sympathy for Mbeki, or just to end her term of office. "We must remember that it would be the natural course for her to end her term now."
Fraser-Moleketi is also government's patron of the Free Software and Open Source Foundation for Africa, a post that will be taken on by the new minister.
Frost & Sullivan industry analyst Lindsey Mc Donald says there may be both a positive and negative spin if the ministers follow the president.
She says Fraser-Moleketi has done a good job in her portfolio, and anyone stepping into her shoes will only need to continue on the same path. "However, there could be more done to improve operational cost reductions."
Adding to this, she says a new communications minister will have to change focus entirely. "There will need to be more of a focus on communicating within this portfolio. Especially with regard to the Independent Communications Authority of SA."
Another response to Mbeki's resignation is that the Azanian People's Organisation (AZPO) has recalled minister of science and technology Mosibudi Mangena. AZPO made the decision after an urgent meeting held over the weekend.
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