On the evening of 6 March 2023, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced changes to the National Executive during an address to the nation.
The purpose of this Cabinet reshuffle is to ensure that the government is properly capacitated and directed to give effect to the commitments made in the recent State of the Nation Address and the Budget Speech.
All parts of government are focused on addressing issues that concern South Africans the most: load shedding, unemployment, poverty and the rising cost of living, including crime and corruption.
Two Ministries have been established, namely the Minister for Electricity and the Minister with specific responsibility for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation.
Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa has been appointed as the new Minister in the Presidency responsible for Electricity, whose role it will be to deal with the immediate crisis of load shedding.
President Ramaphosa said in his new role, Ramokgopa’s primary goal will be to drive the government's programme of significantly reducing the load shedding as a matter of urgency and to also fully implement the Energy Action Plan.
Ramokgopa has also been appointed as the new Minister in the Presidency with specific responsibility for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, who will focus greater attention on the performance of the government.
Paul Mashatile has been appointed as South Africa’s new Deputy President, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni has been appointed as the new Minister in the Presidency, and Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma as the Minister responsible for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities.
More appointments made by the President are as follows:
- Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Mondli Gungubele, replacing Khumbudzo Ntshavheni.
- Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Thembi Nkadimeng, replacing Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma.
- Minister of Public Service and Administration, Noxolo Kiviet, replacing acting then Minister Thulas Nxesi.
- Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Sihle Zikalala, replacing Patricia de Lille.
- Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Zizi Kodwa, replacing Nathi Mthethwa.
- Minister of Tourism, Patricia de Lille, replacing Lindiwe Sisulu.
- Minister of Transport, Sindisiwe Chikunga, replacing Fikile Mbalula.
With respect to Deputy Ministers, the President 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.
President Cyril Ramaphosa will officially hold a swearing-in ceremony of newly appointed Ministers.
Although there might be individuals who aren’t happy about the cabinet reshuffle, President Ramaphosa has mentioned that the new changes are intended to fill vacancies that have occurred in the Executive and to direct government more effectively towards the areas that require urgent and decisive action such as loadshedding.
