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President Zuma announces new Cabinet

26 May 2014

Cyril Ramaphosa was appointed Deputy President and Deputy Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene was promoted to minister of finance in President Jacob Zuma's new Cabinet, announced on Sunday following his inauguration for a second term as President on Saturday.

Zuma said the new executive - which includes new appointments in the minerals, energy, police and telecommunications portfolios - had been picked in order to drive economic transformation and restore foreign investor confidence by "ensur[ing] implementation and the impact of the National Development Plan (NDP)".

Ngoako Ramathlodi is promoted from deputy minister of correctional services to minister of mineral resources; Tina Joemat-Peterssen, previously minister of agriculture, forestry and fisheries, takes over as minister of energy; former department of labour director-general Nkosinathi Nhleko takes over as minister of police; and Siyabonga Cwele moves from being minister of state security to being minister of telecommunications.

In another big announcement of the evening, President Zuma said Deputy Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene would be promoted to be the Finance Minister, replacing Minister

Pravin Gordhan moves from the Treasury to head up the Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs portfolio.

His successor, Nhlanhla Nene, is South Africa's first black finance minister. Nene was the chairperson of Parliament's portfolio committee on finance for a number of years before being appointed deputy minister of finance in 2008. His wealth of experience and track record is set to ensure continuity and maintain confidence in a portfolio that is key to the country's economy.

New and merged departments

Besides appointing new personnel, Zuma also announced a number of changes and mergers to the departments in his executive.

The Cabinet now includes a new Ministry for Telecommunications and Postal Services, Ministry of Water and Sanitation, and Ministry for Small Business Development.

The National Planning Commission and the Ministry for Performance Monitoring and Evaluation has been combined into one Ministry in the Presidency in order to harmonise planning and monitoring. It will be headed by former justice minister, now minister in the Presidency, Jeff Radebe.

A new Communications Ministry has also been established for overarching communication policy and strategy, information dissemination and publicity, and the branding of the country abroad, Zuma said, adding that improved marketing of the country would promote investment in the country.

This department will include the Independent Communications Authority of SA (Icasa), the public broadcaster, the SABC, the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS), Brand South Africa, and the Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA).

The Ministry of Women, Children and People with Disabilities has become the Ministry of Women, located in the Presidency, with functions related to the support of children and people with disabilities transferred to the Department of Social Development.

And the Departments of Justice and Constitutional Development and Department of Correctional Services have been combined in the Department of Justice and Correctional Services.

New Cabinet ministers: full list

The ministers in President Zuma's new Cabinet are as follows:

• Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries - Senzeni Zokwana
• Arts and Culture - Nathi Mthethwa
• Basic Education - Angie Motshekga
• Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs - Pravin Gordhan
• Communications - Faith Muthambi
• Defence and Military Veterans - Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula
• Economic Development - Ebrahim Patel
• Energy - Tina Joemat-Peterssen
• Environmental Affairs - Edna Molewa
• Health - Aaron Motsoaledi
• Higher Education and Training - Bonginkosi "Blade" Nzimande
• Home Affairs - Malusi Gigaba
• Human Settlements - Lindiwe Sisulu
• International Relations and Cooperation - Maite Nkoana-Mashabane
• Justice and Correctional Services - Michael Masutha
• Labour - Mildred Oliphant
• Mineral Resources - Ngoako Ramathlodi
• Minister in the Presidency - Jeff Radebe
• Minister of Women in the Presidency - Susan Shabangu
• Police - Nkosinathi Nhleko
• Public Enterprises - Lyn Brown
• Public Service and Administration - Collins Chabane
• Public Works - Thulas Nxesi
• Rural Development and Land Reform - Gugile Nkwinti
• Science and Technology - Naledi Pandor
• Small Business Development - Lindiwe Zulu
• Social Development - Bathabile Dlamini
• Sport and Recreation - Fikile Mbalula
• State Security - David Mahlobo
• Telecommunications and Postal Services - Siyabonga Cwele
• Tourism - Derek Hanekom
• Trade and Industry - Rob Davies
• Transport - Dipuo Peters
• Water and Sanitation - Nomvula Mokonyane

Source: SAnews.gov.za