It is high time for a cabinet shuffle. Unlike his predecessor, who changed his cabinet a mind-blowing eleven times, President Cyril Ramaphosa has only shuffled his cabinet once.

Of course, it is highly unlikely that he will do so before the ANC Elective Conference in a few weeks from now. However, when he finally does – probably in the new year - I hope that he will reduce the number of cabinet positions and get rid of all the dead wood. Cabinet needs some fresh eyes, legs, and brains.

However, there is one new portfolio that I think the President should create: Climate Change and Energy.

Given that the impact of climate change will be - and is already – far more disastrous on the developing world, it is crucial that South Africa has a laser sharp focus on how to deal with the fall-out of rapidly rising earth temperatures and sea levels. On the positive front, green funding is and will continue to be a welcome source of foreign direct investment – if we can show that we are taking the necessary steps to meet the emission targets and skilfully negotiate the deals.

All these issues require more than just a Presidential Climate Change Commission (as important as it is).

We need a dedicated minister who understands the complexities of climate change and a department staffed with highly skilled people to support him/her.

Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Scotland, Spain, Sweden, Italy, Luxemburg, Malta, Netherlands all have separate ministries dealing with climate change. Some have been in place since 2008, so we are already late to the game. Even in the developing world, countries such as Pakistan, India and Malaysia have separate climate portfolios.

In South Africa, the energy crisis is of course closely linked to the climate change debate. Coal-generated energy must be phased out. For that reason, it is crucial that energy should no longer be in the same portfolio as minerals and mining. 

Not only does it completely send the wrong message, but also causes a conflict for the relevant minister who, on one hand needs to support and promote mining, and on the other hand, grow alternative green energy provisions.

It is of course true that we will still need certain minerals such as graphite, lithium, cobalt, copper and manganese for green energy provision, but not on the scale of coal.

We have seen the repeated flip-flopping of  Minister Gwede Mantashe on the future of coal and gas depending on his audience. His conflicting messages were also visible at COP27 where the South African pavilion was co-sponsored by some of the biggest extracting companies and polluters in our country.  (Seriously, did nobody think about this?)

Internationally, most climate change portfolios include energy for good reason. Globally, energy provision is one of the biggest issues when it comes to climate change and thus it makes sense to have them in the same portfolio.

I have no problem if the President wants to let his long-time confidant continue to handle mining. That is, after all, where his political career started and the mining community clearly likes him. However, he cannot handle energy. He does not seem to understand the complexities of  climate change, nor does he seem committed to a green energy transition.

The question then arises what to do with Eskom.

If it wasn’t for the lack of vision (I’m being kind to them) of those in charge of Eskom during the Zuma years, Eskom could have largely been transitioned from a coal energy generating company to a sustainable, green energy provider by now.

As we all know, it wasn’t done and we are in deep trouble with energy provision. It is clear that the current management is taking some steps in the right direction, For example, making vacant land next to power stations available for renewable energy installations. This is important, but will take years to make an impact.

So, given the magnitude of the crisis at Eskom, it is most probably wise to leave it under Public Enterprises and not burden the Climate Change portfolio with it.

Who the person should be who takes on the Climate Change and Energy  portfolio is not clear. Minister Barbara Creecy is skilled in both finance and the environment, so she is one viable option. Alternatively the President might be wise to use his Constitutional right to appoint someone from outside of parliament to do this job.

Whoever it is, it should be someone who has both the commitment, knowledge and skill to handle these issues with urgency.