“I am not confirming nor denying”, says Pandor on deputy president speculation

Minister of Higher Education and Training, Dr. Naledi Pandor says she can neither confirm nor deny rumors of her possibly ascending to the position of deputy president when newly inaugurated president Cyril Ramaphosa announces his new dawn cabinet.

Pandor was speaking to eNCA journalist Samkelo Maseko at Loftus stadium ahead of Ramaphosa’s inauguration on Saturday. 

“Any appointment to the cabinet is the prerogative of the president and this is all just wild speculation so let’s wait on the president and let him announce his cabinet

I am not confirmation nor denying, I don’t think these are matters we should entertain our tradition in the African national congress is we await the president who has the responsility with respect to this and he will be the one that makes the appropriate announcement,” said Pandor.

Pandor was Ramaphosa’s original choice for deputy president at Nasrec but lost out to David Mabuza. The ‘Cat’ Mabuza asked not to be sworn in as a member of parliament earlier this week pending a meeting with the ANC’s integrity commission.

Pandor faces stiff competition from minister of international relations Lindiwe Sisulu, and former AU chair and newly appointed chancellor of the University of Limpopo, Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.