THE NEW CABINET
President cuts cabinet to 28 and combines portfolios
A clear mandate to accelerate inclusive economic growth ... tackle poverty
Patricia de Lille, Pravin Gordhan, Tito Mboweni, Phumulo Masualle and Noxolo Kiviet were some of the surprise cabinet ministers and deputies announced after a dramatic delay by President Cyril Ramaphosa on Wednesday night.
Ramaphosa has brought Good party leader De Lille to head public works.
The president announced his executive on Wednesday evening, reducing the size of cabinet from 36 to 28 ministers. Ramaphosa’s executive had a few surprises as he got rid of all those implicated in state capture while bringing in young blood.
"I have taken a number of considerations into account, including experience, continuity, competence, generational mix and demographic and regional diversity,” he said.
Expectations of the South African people had never been greater and that they would shoulder a great responsibility, he added.
“Their performance – individually and collectively – will be closely monitored against specific outcomes. Where implementation is unsatisfactory, action will be taken,” he said.
Speaking from the Union Buildings, Ramaphosa said David Mabuza – who was sworn in as an MP on Tuesday after he had asked for his swearing in to be postponed – would be his deputy.
He said South Africans had, in the May 8 elections, provided his administration with a "clear mandate to accelerate inclusive economic growth, act with greater urgency to tackle poverty, improve government services, fight corruption and end state capture.
"If we are to give effect to this mandate, we need a capable, efficient and ethical government."
• Trade and industry was combined with economic development;
• Higher education and training was combined with science and technology;
• Environmental affairs was combined with forestry and fisheries;
• Agriculture was combined with land reform and rural development;
• Mineral resources was combined with energy;
• Human settlements was combined with water and sanitation; and
• Sports and recreation was combined with arts and culture.
"If we are to make effective progress in building the South Africa that we all want, it is important that we deploy into positions of responsibility people who are committed, capable and hard-working, and who have integrity.”
He said he had consulted widely on the executive and on Wednesday called each person individually to inform them.
He also got the rubber stamp from the ANC’s alliance partners, the SACP and Cosatu.
Ramaphosa previously said he would only appoint the best people to his executive.
The ANC said it was confident that all its cadres appointed to Cabinet are equal to the task of implementing the ANC agenda of growing the economy and economy and creating jobs.
“We commend Cde Cyril Ramaphosa for reconfiguring ministries in a manner that takes into account the imperative of reducing the burden on the public purse without compromising government's capacity to deliver on its undertakings.
“The new Cabinet reflects a good balance of youth, gender, geographical spread and experience.
“The ANC urges members of Cabinet to serve the people of South Africa with selflessnes and humility, and to conduct their portfolios with dignity and integrity.
“We wish our cadres the best as they embark on this arduous task of implementing the ANC Manifesto which is premised on job creation, growing the economy ensuring effective governance and fighting corruption.”