THE NEW CABINET MINISTERS

President Jacob Zuma has been lambasted and condemned for his late-night announcement of a cabinet reshuffle. He went against the ANC’s tradition of acting after consultation and instead presented a complete list of his ministers to the party’s top 6 on T

MALUSI GIGABA Minister of Finance

Viewed by analysts as a Zuma loyalist and close to the Guptas. Born in Eshowe, went to Vryheid High. Qualifications in pedagogics; masters in social policy. No economics training.

Was minister of Home Affairs and of Public Enterprises; did a stint as deputy minister of Home Affairs.

At Public Enterprises, Eskom struggled and SAA needed bailing out. Insisted on unabridged birth certificates for children travelling to and from the country.

THEMBELANI NXESI Minister of Sport

Previously Minister of Public Works who had to deal with the Nkandla saga.

Opposition parties accused him of trying to mislead Parliament on the costs of Zuma’s rural homestead. Former Deputy Minister of Rural Development and Land Reform.

Born in Matatiele, has a BA from University of Fort Hare obtained in 1983; a BEd from Wits and a higher diploma in education from Unisa. A secretary-general of Sadtu.

FIKILE MBALULA Minister of Police

KNOWN as a fun-loving, well-travelled sports minister, he has previously served as a deputy minister of police. Born in the Free State he has a master’s degree in economics.

He is a previous secretary-general and president of the ANC Youth League. Most recently he presided over the country’s failed attempted to secure the 2022 Commonwealth Games for Durban.

TOKOZILE XASA Minister of Tourism

PROMOTED from deputy minister, a post she held since 2009.

Originally a teacher, she became a councillor and mayor of the Kei District Council. She was a member of the provincial executive council in the Eastern Cape from 2005 to 2009. Has served on the national executive of the ANC Women’s League. Has a bachelor’s degree in public administration and psychology and a master’s in public administration.

HLENGIWE MKHIZE Minister of Home Affairs

MP since 2009. Deputy Minister of Correctional Services and deputy minister of Telecoms and Postal Services. Ambassador to the Netherlands.

Founding member and trustee of the Children and Violence Trust. Has a BA degree in psychology, social work and sociology (UniZul); BA Hons (psychology) and masters in clinical psychology from UKZN. Senior lecturer and researcher at Wits, 1990-95.

On executive of ANC Women’s League.

FAITH MUTHAMBI, Public Service Administration

HER new department must be bracing after her performance as Minister of Communications, where she was a disaster.

Fiercely loyal to Zuma, she protected the illegally appointed SABC COO Hlaudi Motsoeneng.

She was one of seven ANC MPs nominated for the ad hoc committee to consider President Jacob Zuma’s submissions on the public protector’s report on Nkandla.

NKOSINATHI NHLEKO Minister Of Public Works

A ZULULANDER, he holds a diploma in labour law from the Graduate Institute of Management and Technology. Served as the head of the special anti-corruption unit in the Department of Public Service and Administration, and deputy manager at uMhlathuze Municipality.

Former regional commissioner for Department of Correctional Services. As Minister of Police his term has been a disaster with courts ruling against his.

MMAMOLOKO KUBAYI Minister of Energy

This ministry is key to President Zuma’s plans for a nuclear build programme that critics warn will bankrupt the country. Kubayi, a Zuma loyalist, was the ANC proportional representative from 2006-2009 in the City of Johannesburg and also the chairperson of the portfolio committee on transport, in the same period. She also served in the ANC Youth League as a provincial executive council member in Gauteng.

AYANDA DLODLO Minister of Communications

Previously Deputy Minister of Public Service and Administration; adviser to President Jacob Zuma from 2009-10.

Joined the ANC’s military wing Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK) in Angola aged 18 and received military intelligence training in Moscow from 19841985.

Studied marine and shipping management in the UK. Returned in 1994 and worked for Telkom, Portnet and Sanlam. Former secretary-general of MK Veterans Association.

JOSEPH MASWANGANYI Minister of Transport

NOT much is known about “Joe” as he is known. Born in Malamulele (Giyani) he trained as a teacher and has a BA from Unisa.

He has long served in various portfolios in the Limpopo provincial executive.

Since 2015 he served as a member of the committee on transport and the Auditor-General in the National Assembly.