The National Union of Mineworkers Youth Structure (Num-YS) on Thursday said President Jacob Zuma’s recent cabinet reshuffle would lead to continued instability in the South African government.

The organisation was responding to Zuma’s surprise, controversial cabinet reshuffle on Tuesday in which he swapped around some of his Ministers and axed the South African Communist Party secretary general, Blade Nzimande, as Minister of Higher Education.

Num-YS said Zuma had gone past the stage of no longer caring about the country’s stability and its economic growth.

“He is currently abusing the powers vested in him by appointing ministers willy-nilly without even consulting collective leadership and the alliance.”

“This proves the arrogance that our senior leadership displays towards the millions of voters that had trust and hope in this giant movement of Oliver Tambo and other progressive leaders. The ANC has no option but must correct the further damage to the organization,” said Bonginkosi Mrasi, Num-YS national secretary.

Mrasi added that “the reshuffling fails to correct or improve services at critical departments like state-owned enterprises, social development, mineral resources where so many shenanigans are taking place. As young workers, we are concerned with so much looting at Eskom and the many improper decisions taken by its board. We feel that the current minister is failing to execute her duties in that regard”.

The Num-YS further said it had lost hope and trust in current Mineral and Resources Minister Mosebenzi Zwane, who it says had done little to stave off job losses in the industry.