President Cyril Ramaphosa announced his Government of National Unity cabinet late on Sunday night. (Elmond Jiyane)
President Cyril Ramaphosa has included six opposition lawmakers in his new cabinet after two weeks of difficult coalition negotiations after the ANC lost its majority in May's elections.
President Ramaphosa announced his Cabinet late on Sunday night.
Former Opposition Leader John Steenhausen has been appointed Minister of Agriculture, one of six posts held by the Democratic Alliance. The party's Floor Leader Siviwe Gwalbe, 34, has been appointed Minister of Education and KwaZulu-Natal Speaker Dean McPherson has been appointed Minister of Public Works.
Leon Schreiber is the new Home Secretary. Before the election, he was the Democratic Labour Party's spokesman on public affairs and administration and was considered one of the most capable members of the shadow cabinet.
President Ramaphosa appointed Inkatha Freedom Party leader Velinkosini Hlabisa as minister of cooperative governance and traditional affairs, and the party's deputy leader Mzamo Buthelezi as minister of public service and administration.
Freedom Front Plus leader Peter Groenewald has been appointed Minister of Correctional Services in the Government of National Unity.
In a long-awaited restructuring, the department was separated from the justice department and President Ramaphosa appointed Thembi Nkadimeng to replace Ronald Lamola, who was promoted to minister of international relations.
President Ramaphosa retained Enoch Godongwana as finance minister and appointed his political ally Gwede Mantashe as minister of minerals and petroleum resources. As expected, the energy ministry was split, with Kgosientso Ramokgopa replacing him.
Patriotic Union leader Gayton McKenzie, who had made it clear he wanted a ministerial post in return for joining Ramaphosa's coalition government, has been appointed sports minister, while GOOD leader Patricia de Lille will remain tourism minister.
President Ramaphosa had initially offered the post to the DHLP instead of the commerce and industry ministry, but backed off after internal party opposition that his new coalition partner was not confident of upholding affirmative action and competition policies. Instead, he retained agriculture for the DHLP.
The party won a total of six cabinet seats, with Treasury spokesman Dion George appointed Minister for Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment.
The IFP's Nkuleko Hlengwa, who has served as chair of parliament's watchdog Standing Committee on Public Accounts, will become deputy minister of public transport.
President Ramaphosa said he expects the nation's attitude to be reflected not only in the composition of his Cabinet but also in the policies it implements.
“We had to consider not only the immediate needs of the country but the needs of all our citizens,” he said.
The announcement marks the culmination of two weeks of bargaining between the ANC and the Democratic Party over how many posts the party should have in the ruling coalition.
There was division within the DA's negotiating team over whether it would be wise to go into cabinet or enter into a so-called confidence and supply agreement (which has the advantage of maintaining ideological divisions), and there was similar division among the party's donors.
But the debate quickly settled in favour of power-sharing within the executive branch to meaningfully impact the national interest, said party founder Tony Leong. Mail & Guardian Just before the presidential inauguration was announced.
The DA initially demanded 12 seats, but after negotiations this was reduced to six. To sweeten the deal, President Ramaphosa agreed to appoint a second deputy finance minister, a post to be filled by Ashor Sarpeng.
Ultimately, the trade and industry post was given to Parks Tau of the ANC, while Angie Motshekga moved from basic education to defence, with one of her deputies being United Democratic Movement leader Bantu Holomisa and the other Richard Mkungo.
The DA's plans for a deputy presidency or a ministry in the presidency did not materialise, with President Ramaphosa retaining Paul Mashatile as deputy president and Khumbudzo Ntsahvheni as minister in the presidency.
President Ramaphosa said he “considered it necessary” to separate some areas “in order to ensure sufficient focus on the key issues”.
The division of ministries and the addition of deputy ministerial posts has allowed President Ramaphosa to allocate more positions to nine of the 11 parties that have agreed to join the national unity government. There are currently 32 ministers and 43 deputy ministers.
The ministries of power and energy will be merged under the purview of current power minister Kgosienso Ramokgopa (ANC), while the minerals department will come under the Ministry of Minerals and Petroleum Resources, headed by ANC's Gwede Mantashe.
The Ministry of Agriculture was separated from the Ministry of Land Reform and Rural Development, with the former coming under the DA's John Steenhuisen and the latter under the leadership of Azania Pan-African Congress president Mzwanele Nkhontso.
Crucially, the president's ally, the ANC, has control of the security forces: Senzo Mchunu is now police minister, while Ntshavheni continues to control state security.