South Africa's Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula. Credit: Getty Images
Is South Africa’s Sports and Recreation Minister Fikile Mbalula using a traditionally marginalized cabinet position as a springboard to something larger within the ANC hierarchy? Nickolaus Bauer of the Mail & Guardian thinks so.
There is no reason why the Sports Ministry or any other traditionally modest post cannot provide an opportunity to shine. Competence and savvy are not restricted to high-profile ministries, and while there are many competent people in the ANC there are also a lot of people punching above their competencies, serving because of who they are rather than what they are best positioned to do. If Mbalula shines in this traditionally marginal (though in some ways disproportionately high profile given the status of sport in South Africa) portfolio, Jacob Zuma and the rest of the party hierarchy will surely notice, and another cabinet reshuffling is always around the corner.