Cabinet reshuffle: who’s who
We look at some of the new – and old – faces in President Cyril Ramaphosa’s first cabinet and explain what these departments’ primary functions are
ANEW broom sweeps clean, the saying goes. And that’s what President Cyril Ramaphosa did to a certain extent when he announced his first cabinet reshuffle – although a few of the politicians the public had been hoping would go were spared the brisk bristles of his brand-new broom.
Ramaphosa made 30 changes to minister and deputy minister positions and there was widespread approval of his decision to appoint Pravin Gordhan as the new minister of public enterprises and reinstate Nhlanhla Nene to the finance portfolio. There were also several surprise inclusions, such as his ANC presidential race opponent Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma as a minister in the presidency.
We look at a number of departments and what they’re supposed to do for you.
COMMUNICATIONS MINISTER: NOMVULA MOKONYANE (54) Budget: R1,52 billion (2018/19)*
This department is responsible for the national communications policy and strategy and the branding of South Africa.
It’s also in charge of various entities including the Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA), which “aims to redress the exclusion and marginalisation of disadvantaged communities and people from access to the media and media industry”, according to the agency’s website.
Mokonyane’s duties will involve bringing stability to the beleaguered SABC, which has been under scrutiny in parliament for illegal appointments and overspending.
The new minister doesn’t come without baggage, of course, and her woes from her previous portfolio, the department of water and sanitation, might follow her to communications.
Parliament’s Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa) has accused her of collapsing that department in relation to a R2,9 billion overdraft it took out last year. Scopa chairperson Themba Godi has called for a full inquiry and for charges to be laid against her.
TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND POSTAL SERVICES MINISTER: DR SIYABONGA CWELE (59) Budget: R1,6 billion (2017/18)
Making access to information and communication technology easier is this department’s main goal. It’s the department behind the migration of the country’s broadcasting services from analogue to digital, spearheaded by Sentech, the signal distributor for the SA broadcasting sector.
The South African Post Office (Sapo) and the Universal Service and Access Agency of South Africa (Usaasa) – which aims to ensure access to information and communications technology for all – also fall under this department.
(2017/18) ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT MINISTER: EBRAHIM PATEL (55) Budget: R797 million
This department’s main job is to ensure
the country’s economic viability.
The minister and his team work with entities such as the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), a self-financing, self-sustaining, state-owned national development finance institution.
The department’s tasks also involve tackling cartels and price fixing across a number of markets in the country as well as building partnerships with various countries.
MONITORING, PLANNING AND EVALUATION IN THE PRESIDENCY MINISTER: NKOSAZANA DLAMINI-ZUMA (69) Budget: R942 million (2018/19)*
The main job in this portfolio is to ensure the smooth implementation of the National Development Plan (NDP) 2030.
The NDP is essentially a blueprint of how the country can reduce poverty and inequality by 2030. It aims to transform the economy to ensure everyone has access to basic services, jobs, business opportunities and land.
This department is relatively new, established in 2014 to help guarantee a focused implementation of government’s plans, both short and long term.
COOPERATIVE GOVERNANCE AND TRADITIONAL AFFAIRS MINISTER: ZWELI MKHIZE (62) Budget: R85,114 billion (2018/2019)*
Led by Des van Rooyen until the cabinet reshuffle, this department is responsible for the management of all municipalities, including their debt to Eskom and ensuring ward councillors deliver.
Reducing the number of initiate deaths is also part of its mandate.
The Community Work Programme (CWP) is a flagship enterprise of this department, which last year provided around 243 162 work opportunities. The programme temporarily employs young people to do community work while they search for more permanent jobs.
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC ENTERPRISES MINISTER: PRAVIN GORDHAN (68) Budget: R279,5 million (2017/18)
This portfolio is in charge of state-owned companies including Eskom, Transnet, Denel, SAA, Alexkor (a mining company) and the South African Forestry Company SOC Limited, which conducts timber harvesting, timber processing and related activities both domestically and internationally.
Intern skills development is a key driver in the department, with the six state-owned enterprises in the portfolio having enrolled 8 931 trainees in 2016.
The department has been at the centre of allegations of corruption and state capture under former minister Lynne Brown, who was fired in the recent reshuffle and subsequently resigned as a member of parliament.
PUBLIC SERVICE AND ADMINISTRATION MINISTER: AYANDA DLODLO (54) Budget: R457 million (2017/18)
Improving service delivery across all government sectors is what Dlodlo has been tasked with. This includes making sure government employees maintain a high standard of professional ethics.
The department is also in charge of the government employees housing scheme as well as promoting public service as a career choice.
Keeping public servants in check is also an integral job of the department, which includes making sure public service officials disclose all their financial interests and ensuring they don’t do any business with the state.
WOMEN IN THE PRESIDENCY MINISTER: BATHABILE DLAMINI (55) Budget: R206,1 million (2017/18)
Often referred to as one of the most useless ministries ever to emerge in South Africa, the department is tasked with various programmes, including raising awareness about gender-based violence.
The bulk of its budget – R83 million – went to administration last year, while “knowledge management” was allocated R26,7 million.
Knowledge management, in case you’re wondering, is basically making the best use of the knowledge of people in the department – using the right people for the right jobs but making sure you know what each person’s area of expertise is in order to get there.
Dlamini – whom many had hoped would get the boot after her disastrous tenure in the department of social development – is also in charge of the 16 Days of Activism project as well as campaigns to provide sanitary pads to schools.
MINERAL RESOURCES MINISTER: GWEDE MANTASHE (62) Budget: R1,779 billion (2017/18)
This department is in charge of the mining industry and its development. Implementing the mining charter is one of its main targets. Increasing black ownership and participation in the mining sector is also part of Mantashe’s mandate, and he has to finalise the new mining charter by June.
PUBLIC WORKS MINISTER: THULAS NXESI (59) Budget: R7,45 billion (2018/19)*
The department is in charge of accommodation and property management services for the government and ensures the various departments have proper premises to conduct business from.
This is Nxesi’s second time in this role. He was accused of lying about the renovations to former president Jacob Zuma’s Nkandla homestead, claiming Zuma didn’t ask for upgrades nor was he briefed on any of the costs involved.
STATE SECURITY MINISTER: DIPUO LETSATSI-DUBA (50) Budget: R4,7 billion (2018/19)*
Most of this department’s budget is allocated towards “secret services”, which former minister David Mahlobo said “facilitates the transfer to the South African secret services account, which provides government with accurate, topical, policy-relevant and timeous foreign intelligence to promote, enhance and protect national security and the interests of South Africa and its citizens”.
Other projects under the state security banner include fighting corruption, ensuring border security, securing cyberspace and protecting against “terrorism, radicalisation and violent extremism”.