Paul Mashatile is the country’s new deputy president in a reshuffled cabinet. On Monday night, President Ramaphosa also announced the new ministers.
Also read: Paul Mashatile is SA’s new deputy president
Here are Ramaphosa’s announcements:
- Minister in the Presidency responsible for performance, monitoring and evaluation is Maropene Ramakgopa
- Minister in the Presidency for electricity is Kgosientsho Ramokgopa
- Minister in the Presidency for women, children and people with disabilities is Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma
- Minister of cooperative governance and traditional affairs is Thembi Nkadimeng (formerly the deputy minister in that department)
- Minister of transport is Sindisiwe Chikunga (promoted from being a deputy minister)
- Minister of public works and infrastructure is Sihle Zikalala (replacing Patricia de Lille who has moved to Tourism)
- New minister of Tourism is Patricia de Lille
- New minister of Sports, Arts and Culture is Zizi Kodwa
- New minister of public service and administration is Noxolo Kiviet (promoted from being a deputy minister)
Ministers that have been fired include Nathi Mthethwa, Lindiwe Sisulu and Maite Nkoana-Mashabane.
Due to the resignations of Ayanda Dlodlo, the former minister of public service and administration, and deputy president David Mabuza, there have been vacancies in the president’s Cabinet.
Ramaphosa opened his speech by addressing the concern regarding the time it took him to make changes to his executive.
“Understanding that just one year remains for the sixth administration, these changes are not about overhauling the national executive. The changes I am announcing now are intended to fill vacancies that occurred in the executive,” said Ramaphosa.
“I sought to balance new skills with the task of ensuring stability in the work of government. We are establishing two new ministries. The first is the minister of electricity and the second is the minister of planning, monitoring and evaluation.”
Focusing on the loadshedding crisis, Ramaphosa explained that the appointed electricity minister will have “political authority and control of all aspects of the energy action plant.”
He further specified that the minister will be expected to facilitate the coordination of the various departments, and will remain in office as long as the energy crisis continues.
“I thank you and apologise for keeping you waiting for much longer than it was necessary,” Ramaphosa concludes his speech.