President Cyril Ramaphosa has finally addressed the nation on his long awaited cabinet reshuffle, and he’s announced a number of changes.

In a long awaited speech, he announced that the Minister in the Presidency responsible for Electricity would be Kgosientso Ramokgopa.

He is a former Tshwane mayor, and was a senior official in the presidency in charge of infrastructure projects.

Ramaphosa also announced ANC deputy president Paul Mashatile as Deputy President of the country. This follows David Mabuza’s resignation.

Other notable announcements included that Patricia de Lille would take over from Lindiwe Sisulu as Minister of Tourism.

In fact, Sisulu has been left out of the revamped cabinet. She was infamously embroiled in the controversial R1 billion Tottenham Hotspur / SA Tourism proposed deal.

Nathi Mthethwa and Maite Nkoana-Mashabane were also not shuffled to other portfolio’s but rather shuffled out the door.

Minister of Public Enteprises, Pravin Gordan and Energy Minister, Gwede Mantashe, remain in their positions, as does a number of other Minister’s including Police Minister Bheki Cele and Finance Minsiter Enoch Godongwana.

In a very short speech, twice delayed, and lasting just shy of 14 minutes, Ramaphosa said the purpose of the changes was to ensure that government is properly ”capacitated and directed to give effect to the commitments made in the State of the Nation Address and the Budget Speech.”

This is the standard that I will hold them to,and I have full confidence that they will meet it.
 
We must waste no time and spare no effort in restoring the promise of South Africa.https://t.co/IIRWo4KIkc

— Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 (@CyrilRamaphosa) March 6, 2023

We have said that the people of South Africa want action, they want solutions and they want government to work for them.

 

All members of the Executive have been directed to focus on those agreed actions that will make a meaningful difference now, that will enable real progress within the next year and that will lay a foundation for a sustained recovery into the future.

 

All parts of government are focused on addressing those issues that concern South Africans the most: load shedding, unemployment, poverty and the rising cost of living, and crime and corruption.

Ramaphosa says the primary task of the new Minister in the Presidency to deal with the Electricity crisis will be to significantly reduce the severity and frequency of load shedding as a matter of urgency.

To effectively oversee the electricity crisis response, the appointed Minister will have political responsibility, authority and control over all critical aspects of the Energy Action Plan.

The full list of changes: 

• Paul Mashatile appointed as Deputy President of the Republic.
• Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni,
• Minister in the Presidency responsible for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma,
• Minister in the Presidency responsible for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Maropene Ramokgopa,
• Minister in the Presidency responsible for Electricity, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa,
• Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Mondli Gungubele,
• Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Thembi Nkadimeng,
• Minister of Public Service and Administration, Noxolo Kiviet,
• Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Sihle Zikalala,
• Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Zizi Kodwa,
• Minister of Tourism, Patricia de Lille,
• Minister of Transport, Sindisiwe Chikunga.

With respect to Deputy Ministers, Ramaphosa made the following appointments:

• Deputy Ministers in the Presidency, Nomasonto Motaung and Kenneth Morolong,
• Deputy Minister in the Presidency responsible for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Sisisi Tolashe,
• Deputy Minister in the Presidency responsible for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Pinky Kekana,
• There will be two Deputy Ministers for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Parks Tau and Zolile Burns-Ncamashe,
• There will be two Deputy Ministers for Water and Sanitation, David Mahlobo and Judith Tshabalala,
• Deputy Minister of Public Works, Bernice Swarts,
• Deputy Minister of Small Business Development, Dipuo Peters,
• Deputy Minister of Public Enterprises, Obed Bapela,
• Deputy Minister of Transport, Lisa Mangcu.

Ramaphosa has instructed both new and existing members of Cabinet to ”act with speed and urgency to address the challenges that our country faces.”

I expect them to FULFILL their tasks with rigour and dedication, to adopt a zero tolerance approach to corruption wherever it exists, and to place the interests of the people of South Africa foremost in the work that they do.

 

This is the standard that I will hold them to,and I have full confidence that they will meet it. We must waste no time and spare no effort in restoring the promise of South Africa.

To read Ramaphosa’s full speech and the reasoning behind the changes visit the Presidency’s WEBSITE.