PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa has announced South Africa’s new cabinet, following weeks of deadlock that delayed the formation of an historic governing coalition.
His African National Congress (ANC) party had to settle for 20 of the 32 ministerial positions he announced on Sunday after it was stripped of its majority in the recent elections, with the remainder split among the opposition.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) filled six of them.
Ramaphosa was forced into the unprecedented power-sharing arrangement with DA and others after his party, a dominant force in South African politics since the end of the apartheid era, lost its parliamentary majority for the first time since 1994 in elections held on 29 May.
The ANC won just 40 percent of the vote, punished for its record characterised by poverty, poor service delivery and some of the world’s highest rates of inequality and unemployment.
The DA claimed the second-largest share with 21 percent.
Ramaphosa said those issues would be priorities for the new government.
“We have shown that there are no problems that are too difficult or too intractable that they cannot be solved through dialogue,” he said.
In a nod to the DA, its leader John Steenhuisen was appointed minister of agriculture.
At the same time, Ramaphosa maintained the ANC’s hold on the ministry of trade and industry, a key portfolio that the DA was also seeking.
The ANC’s Paul Mashatile will also continue as deputy president.
Steenhuisen, in a statement following the announcement, said: “We look forward to being part of a new era in South Africa’s democratic journey, and to bringing real and tangible change to the millions of citizens who voted for it.”
The full list of cabinet ministers deputies is as follows:
- Deputy President – Paul Mashatile
- Minister of Agriculture – John Steenhuisen
- Deputy Minister of Agriculture – Rosemary Nokuzola Capa
- Minister of Land Reform and Rural Development – Mzwanele Nyhontso
- Deputy Minister of Land Reform and Rural Development is Chupu Stanley Mathabatha
- Minister of Basic Education – Siviwe Gwarube
- Deputy Minister of Basic Education – Reginah Mhaule
- Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies – Solly Malatsi
- Deputy Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies – Mondli Gungubele
- Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs – Velinkosi Hlabisa
- Deputy Ministers of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs – Dickson Masemola and Zolile Burns‐Ncamashe
- Minister of Defence and Military Veterans – Angie Motshekga
- Deputy Ministers of Defence and Military Veterans – Bantu Holomisa and Richard Mkhungo
- Minister of Electricity and Energy – Kgosientsho Ramokgopa
- Deputy Minister of Electricity and Energy – Samantha Graham
- Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation – Blade Nzimande
- Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation – Nomalungelo Gina
- Minister of Employment and Labour – Nomakhosazana Meth
- Deputy Ministers of Employment and Labour –Jomo Sibiya and Phumzile Mgcina
- Minister of Finance – Enoch Godongwana
- Deputy Ministers of Finance – David Masondo and Ashor Sarupen
- Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment – Dion George
- Deputy Ministers of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment – Narend Singh and Bernice Swarts
- Minister of Health – Aaron Motsoaledi
- Deputy Minister of Health – Joe Phaahla
- Minister of Higher Education – Nobuhle Nkabane
- Deputy Ministers of Higher Education – Buti Manamela and Mimmy Gondwe
- Minister of Home Affairs – Leon Schreiber
- Deputy Minister of Home Affairs – Njabulo Nzuza
- Minister of Human Settlements – Mmamoloko Kubayi
- Deputy Minister of Human Settlements – Tandi Mahambehlala
- Minister of International Relations and Cooperation – Ronald Lamola
- Deputy Ministers of International Relations and Cooperation – Alvin Botes and Tandi Moraka
- Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development – Thembi Nkadimeng
- Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development – Andries Nel
- Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources – Gwede Mantashe
- Deputy Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources – Judith Nemadzinga‐Tshabalala
- Minister of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation – Maropene Ramokgopa
- Deputy Minister of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation – Seiso Mohai
- Minister of Police – Senzo Mchunu
- Deputy Ministers of Police – Polly Boshielo and Cassel Mathale
- Minister in the Presidency – Khumbudzo Ntshavheni
- Deputy Ministers in the Presidency – Nonceba Mhlauli and Kenneth Morolong
- Minister of Public Service and Administration – Mzamo Buthelezi
- Deputy Minister of Public Service and Administration – Pinky Kekana
- Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure – Dean Macpherson
- Deputy Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure – Sihle Zikalala
- Minister of Small Business Development – Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams
- Deputy Minister of Small Business Development – Jane Sithole
- Minister of Social Development – Sisisi Tolashe
- Deputy Minister of Social Development – Ganief Hendricks
- Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture – Gayton McKenzie
- Deputy Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture – Peace Mabe
- Minister of Tourism – Patricia De Lille
- Deputy Minister of Tourism – Maggie Sotyu
- Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition – Parks Tau
- Deputy Ministers of Trade, Industry and Competition – Zuko Godlimpi and Andrew Whitfield
- Minister of Transport – Barbara Creecy
- Deputy Minister of Transport – Mkhuleko Hlengwa
- Minister of Water and Sanitation – Pemmy Majodina
- Deputy Ministers of Water and Sanitation – David Mahlobo and Isaac Seitlholo
- Minister of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities – Sindisiwe Chikunga
- Deputy Minister of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities – Mmapaseka Steve Letsike
- Minister of Correctional Services – Pieter Groenewald
- Deputy Minister of Correctional Services – Lindiwe Ntshalintshali
