Cyril Ramaphosa names 'Unprecedented' Government of National Unity cabinet

PRETORIA,  South Africa 

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa named a new Cabinet on sunday evening after his African National Congress, the former main opposition party, and nine other parties agreed on the makeup of a coalition government of South Africa's seventh administration following weeks of haggling.

Ramaphosa's announcement of his new, "unprecedented" multi-party Cabinet came a month after the ANC lost its 30-year political dominance of Africa's most industrialized country in a national election, forcing it to seek coalition partners. 

The ANC's share of the vote slumped to 40% in the May 29 vote and it lost its parliamentary majority for the first time since it came to power at the end of the apartheid system of white minority rule in 1994.

Ramaphosa's party retained the largest share of ministerial positions as he appointed ANC officials to 20 of the 32 Cabinet minister roles in the new coalition. 

But there were six ministers from the Democratic Alliance, once the main opposition and the fiercest critic of the ANC, and Ramaphosa shared out the remaining ministerial posts among some of the smaller parties. The DA won the second largest share of the vote with 21%.

Others have also joined what the ANC called a government of national unity that is open to any of the 18 parties represented in Parliament. Some have refused to take part.

"We have shown that there are no problems that are too difficult or too intractable that they cannot be solved through dialogue," Ramaphosa said, noting the negotiations had been complex.

In some of his most significant Cabinet decisions, Ramaphosa reappointed Paul Mashatile of the ANC to continue as his deputy president.

Ramaphosa also appointed Parks Tau of the ANC as the minister of trade and industry, an important portfolio that the DA was seeking and was at the heart of some of the tensions between the two parties.

DA leader Steenhuisen was appointed minister of agriculture, while Ramaphosa also brought the leaders of four other political parties into his Cabinet as new ministers.

“We have had to ensure that all the parties are able to participate meaningfully in the national executive,” Ramaphosa said.

The new National Executive

Ramaphosa has decided to make the following appointments to the National Executive:

• The Deputy President is Paul Mashatile.
• The Minister of Agriculture is John Steenhuisen.
• The Deputy Minister of Agriculture is Rosemary Nokuzola Capa.
• The Minister of Land Reform and Rural Development is Mzwanele Nyhontso.
• The Deputy Minister of Land Reform and Rural Development is Chupu Stanley Mathabatha.
• The Minister of Basic Education is Siviwe Gwarube.
• The Deputy Minister of Basic Education is Reginah Mhaule.
• The Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies is Solly Malatsi.
• The Deputy Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies is Mondli Gungubele.
• The Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs is Velinkosi Hlabisa.
• The Deputy Ministers of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs are Dickson Masemola and Zolile Burns‐Ncamashe.
• The Minister of Defence and Military Veterans is Angie Motshekga.
• The Deputy Ministers of Defence and Military Veterans are Bantu Holomisa and Richard Mkhungo.
• The Minister of Electricity and Energy is Kgosientsho Ramokgopa.
• The Deputy Minister of Electricity and Energy is Samantha Graham.
• The Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation is Blade Nzimande.
• The Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation is Nomalungelo Gina.
• The Minister of Employment and Labour is Nomakhosazana Meth.
• The Deputy Ministers of Employment and Labour are Jomo Sibiya and Phumzile Mgcina.
• The Minister of Finance is Enoch Godongwana.
• The Deputy Ministers of Finance are David Masondo and Ashor Sarupen.
• The Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment is Dion George.
• The Deputy Ministers of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment are Narend Singh and Bernice Swarts.
• The Minister of Health is Aaron Motsoaledi.
• The Deputy Minister of Health is Joe Phaahla.
• The Minister of Higher Education is Nobuhle Nkabane.
• The Deputy Ministers of Higher Education are Buti Manamela and Mimmy Gondwe.
• The Minister of Home Affairs is Leon Schreiber.
• The Deputy Minister of Home Affairs is Njabulo Nzuza.
• The Minister of Human Settlements is Mmamoloko Kubayi.
• The Deputy Minister of Human Settlements is Tandi Mahambehlala.
• The Minister of International Relations and Cooperation is Ronald Lamola.
• The Deputy Ministers of International Relations and Cooperation are Alvin Botes and Tandi Moraka.
• The Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development is Thembi Nkadimeng.
• The Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development is Andries Nel.
• The Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources is Gwede Mantashe.
• The Deputy Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources is Judith Nemadzinga‐Tshabalala.
• The Minister of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation is Maropene Ramokgopa.
• The Deputy Minister of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation is Seiso Mohai.
• The Minister of Police is Senzo Mchunu.
• The Deputy Ministers of Police are Polly Boshielo and Cassel Mathale.
• The Minister in the Presidency is Khumbudzo Ntshavheni.
• The Deputy Ministers in the Presidency are Nonceba Mhlauli and Kenneth Morolong.
• The Minister of Public Service and Administration is Mzamo Buthelezi.
• The Deputy Minister of Public Service and Administration is Pinky Kekana.
• The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure is Dean Macpherson.
• The Deputy Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure is Sihle Zikalala.
• The Minister of Small Business Development is Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams.
• The Deputy Minister of Small Business Development is Jane Sithole.
• The Minister of Social Development is Sisisi Tolashe.
• The Deputy Minister of Social Development is Ganief Hendricks.
• The Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture is Gayton McKenzie.
• The Deputy Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture is Peace Mabe.
• The Minister of Tourism is Patricia De Lille.
• The Deputy Minister of Tourism is Maggie Sotyu.
• The Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition is Parks Tau.
• The Deputy Ministers of Trade, Industry and Competition are Zuko Godlimpi and Andrew Whitfield.
• The Minister of Transport is Barbara Creecy.
• The Deputy Minister of Transport is Mkhuleko Hlengwa.
• The Minister of Water and Sanitation is Pemmy Majodina.
• The Deputy Ministers of Water and Sanitation are David Mahlobo and Isaac Seitlholo.
• The Minister of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities is Sindisiwe Chikunga.
• The Deputy Minister of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities is Mmapaseka Steve Letsike.
• The Minister of Correctional Services is Pieter Groenewald.
• The Deputy Minister of Correctional Services is Lindiwe Ntshalintshali.