On Tuesday 9 July 2013, President Jacob Zuma announced wide ranging changes to the National Executive (i.e. Cabinet) and the fourth in as many years during the term of the current administration since coming into in 2009 and with general elections on the horizon in 2014.
Three altogether new appointments were announced, all of whom were generally highly regarded Members of Parliament recently within the ANC Parliamentary Caucus and with high levels of responsibilities of various parliamentary committees and in the caucus. They are:
- Ms Connie September (Minister of Human Settlements)
- Mr John Jeffrey (Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development)
- Adv Michael Masutha (Deputy Minister of Science and Technology)
Two ministers are shifted within the Cabinet, namely:
- Mr. Ben Martins goes from Minister of Transport to Minister of Energy
- Ms Dipouo Peters goes from Minister Energy to Minister of Transport
Two previous Deputy Ministers are promoted to full Ministerial duty, namely:
- Mr Yunus Carrim from Deputy Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs to Minister of Communications
- Mr Lechesa Tsenoli from Deputy Minister of Rural Development and Land Reform to Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs.
Two Ministers are removed from the Cabinet altogether, namely:
- Mr Tokyo Sexwale, former Minister of Human Settlements and who found himself opposing President Jacob Zuma re-election for a second term as party President.
- Ms Dina Pule who has consistently been hounded by allegations of corruption, ethical misconduct, poor administration and non-delivery in the Communications portfolio she headed and which has been dogged by controversy.
Download the complete political update and analysis here: Political Update_Cabinet Reshuffle_09July2013