Addressing a media conference at the Union Buildings in Pretoria, President Jacob this afternoon announced an unexpected cabinet reshuffle, reallocating existing cabinet ministers and deputy ministers to alternative portfolios and the appointment of a number of members of Parliament as deputy ministers.
Prior to the announcement there were three vacancies in the National Executive, namely:
- Minister for Public Service and Administration. The position became vacant following the tragic and untimely death of Minister Radakrishna “Roy” Padayachie while on duty in Ethiopia.
- Deputy Minister of Economic Development, which arose from the resignation of the former Deputy Minister of Economic Development, Mr. Enoch Godongwana.
- Deputy Minister of Public Works, following the transfer of the former Deputy Minister Ms Henrietta Bogopane-Zulu to the Ministry for Women, Children and Persons with Disability.
The new Ministerial appointments are as follows:
- Public Service and Administration, Ms Lindiwe Sisulu, formerly the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans.
- Defence, Ms Nosiviwe Maphisa-Nqakula, formerly the Minister of Correctional Services.
- Transport, Mr. Ben Martins, former the Deputy Minister of Public Enterprises.
- Correctional Services, Mr. Sibusiso Ndebele, formerly the Minister of Transport
The Deputy Ministerial appointments are as follows:
- Transport, Ms Sindisiwe Chikunga, former Chairperson of Parliament’s National Assembly Portfolio Committee on Police.
- Public Enterprises, Mr. Gratitude Magwanishe, former Deputy Chief Whip of the African National Congress in Parliament.
- Public Works, Mr. Jeremy Cronin, former Deputy Minister of Transport.
- Economic Development, Ms Hlengiwe Mkhize, former Deputy Minister of Higher Education.
- Higher Education, Mr. Mduduzi Manana, former African National Congress Member of Parliament and a member of the ANC Youth League National Executive Committee and the youngest member of parliament since 1994.
In due course, ETHICORE will publish more detailed biographical profiles of all appointees.
Parliament as a ‘political conveyor belt’
The appointment to Cabinet of a number of former high ranking and politically strategic members of parliament, illustrates the continued relevance of Parliament as a training for cultivating and nurturing future political leaders who go on to serve in Cabinet, and therefore the value of investing in these relations through effective and constructive parliamentary liaison, advocacy and lobbying.
This leaves a vacuum in Parliament which will need to be filled by the African National Congress in due course and which ETHICORE will closely monitor and report on.
Congratulations
ETHICORE congratulates the new members of the National Executive on their appointment and wish all, both the new members and those who are changing portfolios, success and progress in their new responsibilities. We look forward to engaging with them in the course of executing their duties.