Mashatile Named Deputy President, DA’s Steenhuisen Appointed Agriculture Minister As Ramaphosa Announces Cabinet Members

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced the members of the National Executive for South Africa’s 7th Democratic Administration, with Paul Mashatile named the Deputy President, while the Democratic Alliance’s John Steenhuisen was named the Minister of Agriculture. Meanwhile, Patricia de Lille retained her position as Tourism Minister. 

In a televised broadcast on Sunday night, Ramaphosa announced the several political parties that had signed an agreement to form a Government of National Unity, as the African National Congress (ANC) did not gain the majority of votes for the first time in 30 years in the country’s May elections.

Ramaphosa said, “To give effect to this mandate, it was agreed that a government of National Unity, which brings together parties from across the political spectrum, should be formed. This Government of National Unity would be bound by fundamental principles, and would undertake a basic minimum of programmes of priorities that affect the lives of the people of South Africa.

“Following discussions over the course of the last few weeks, a total of eleven parties have elected to work together in government as well as in parliament. These are; the African National Congress, the Democratic Alliance, the Patriotic Alliance, the Inkatha Freedom Party, Good Party, Pan-Africanist Congress of Azania, Freedom Front Plus, United Democratic Movement, Al Jama-ah, Rise Mzansi, and the United African Transformation.”

The President then said, “This evening, I am pleased to announce the members of the National Executives of our country, who will bear collective responsibility to give effect to the will of the people of South Africa.

“The following appointments to the executives will therefore be made.

“The Deputy President is Paul Mashantile. The Minister of Agriculture is John Steenhuisen.”

The other ministers are as follows; Minister of Land Reform and Development, Mzwanele Nyhontso; Minister of Basic Education, Siviwe Gwarube; Minister of Communications and Digital Technology, Solly Malatsi; Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Velenkosini Hlabisa; Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Angie Motshekga; Minister of Electricity and Energy, Kgosientsho Ramokgopa; Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Blade Nzimande; Minister of Employment and Labour, Nomakhosazana Meth; Minister of Finance, Enoch Godongwana.

Others include; Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries, Dion George; Minister of Health, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi; Minister of Higher Education, Nobuhle Nkabane; Minister of Home Affairs, Leon Schreiber; Minister of Human Settlements, Mmamoloko Kubayi; Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola; Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Thandi Nkadimeng; Minister of Correctional Services, Pieter Groenewald; Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, Gwede Mantashe; Minister of Police, Senzo Mchunu; Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Dean Macpherson.

Also named were; Minister of Small Business Development, Stella Ndabeni; Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie; Minister of Tourism, Patricia de Lille; Minister of Transport, Barbara Creecy; Minister of Water and Sanitation, Pemmy Majodina, amongst others.

Ramaphosa then revealed, “Given the challenges that our country faces today, and considering the electoral mandate this government must implement, and I mean that we must work hard to ensure that we achieve all the goals that we have set out. And with due regard to this, I have decided to make a number of changes in the government portfolios.

“In the course of the sixth administration, I indicated my intention to reduce the number of portfolios in the National Executive. However, due to the need to ensure that the National Executive is inclusive of all the parties that are part of the government of National Unity, this has not been possible. In some instances, we’ve had to consider it necessary to separate certain portfolios to ensure that there is sufficient focus on key issues.

“The ministries of Electricity and Energy will now be merged. There will be a separate Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources. The ministry of Agriculture will be separated from the ministry of Land, Rural Reform and Development. Ministry of Higher Education will be separated from the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation. The Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Development will be separated from the Ministry of Correctional Services. There will no longer be a ministry of Public Enterprises, the coordination of the relevant Public Enterprises will be located in the Presidency during the process of implementing a new shareholder order. However, various key institutions will be reporting to the various ministries for quality measures.”

“The establishment of the government of National Unity, in its current form, is unprecedented in our history of democracy,” Ramaphosa said, explaining that his government has had to consider different factors that will help to form the government in the best way that it will establish the stability of the country as well as build the South African people.

He then concluded, “In the spirit of partnership and collaboration, the incoming government will work together with other formations to convene what we have spoken about a few days ago, which is a National Dialogue. Through this national dialogue, all parties, civil society groups, Labour, business, and other stakeholders, will be invited to work together to address the critical challenges facing our nation. We call on all South Africans to participate in the National dialogue and to give their support to this Government of National Unity.”

Ozioma Samuel-Ugwuezi

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