0 of 14
The Eastern Cape has emerged as a winner in President Cyril Ramaphosa’s new cabinet, which comprises 11 political parties, with the province boasting 14 ministers and deputy ministers across party lines.
These include new and old faces announced by Ramaphosa on Sunday, much to the relief of the country after weeks of speculation and anticipation.
Those that call Eastern Cape home are:
Mzwanele Nyhotsho — minister of land reform and rural development;
Siviwe Gwarube — minister of education;
Pemmy Majodina — minister of water and sanitation;
Gwede Mantashe — minister of minerals and petroleum;
Nomakhosazana Meth — minister of employment and labour;
Sisisi Tolashe — minister of social development;
Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams — minister of small business development;
Enoch Godongwana remains minister of finance;
Nokuzola Capa — deputy minister of agriculture;
Mondli Gungubele — deputy minister of communications and digital technologies;
Prince Zolile Burns-Ncamashe — deputy minister of co-operative governance and traditional affairs;
Bantu Holomisa — deputy minister of defence and military veterans; and
Andrew Whitfield and Zuko Godlimpi — deputy ministers of trade, industry and competition.
The Dispatch was unable to reach all of the appointees on Monday.
Godlimpi, the ANC’s youngest national executive committee member, also became the youngest member of the executive at just 32.
Once tipped to be the ANC’s youth league president before he declined, Godlimpi will share his role with the DA’s Whitfield.
Godlimpi said he was upbeat to be working in the executive.
“We are looking forward to working in this unknown arrangement, it is a new reality for SA and the ANC and a new setting for us as members of the executive under this changed context.
“It is an opportunity for us to learn and also demonstrate to the world that the youth of SA are capable leaders who can take responsibility to help get out of a difficult moment.”
Godlimpi said the number of leaders in the GNU cabinet hailing from the Eastern Cape was testament to the province’s rich history.
“This tells you that the Eastern Cape retains its historic position as a birthing place of leaders. But broadly all provinces are evenly represented.
“We are excited and we hope we can bring a perspective to help the national government deal with the underdevelopment challenges of the Eastern Cape in a much more strategic and sustainable manner.”
Whitfield said it was an honour and a privilege to “contribute and serve the people of SA and to be a deputy minister with the opportunity to present positive change in the economic duration of this country”.
“This government of national unity requires mature political leadership to build relationships across party lines ... and the critical skill of every department where multiple political parties are represented.”
Whitfield believed the province had vast reserves of untapped economic potential and he planned to dedicate much of his time to ensuring the province’s agenda found expression in the department.
“That we are able to leverage our two industrial development zones and try to overcome the barriers to investment in the Eastern Cape.”
Meth, a member of the ANC NEC and former Eastern Cape health and rural development and agrarian reform MEC as well as former mayor of the OR Tambo district municipality, takes over the reins of employment and labour from former minister Thulas Nxesi.
Meth said she had not expected to be appointed a minister.
She was watching the president’s announcement from her home in Mthatha and said she only learnt of her promotion when her name was read out.
“I hardly recognised my name. It was so sudden. I had a blackout — I didn’t even hear who my deputy is.
“Soon after that I was inundated by calls.
“It’s an honour and I commit to doing my best to serve the people of SA.
“A deployment to lead as a political head of any institution or department is never child’s play.
“There will be challenges but no challenges are insurmountable in a collective.”
UDM leader Bantu Holomisa returns to the executive, 30 years after his previous position as a deputy minister of environment and tourism in Nelson Mandela’s 1994 government of national unity.
The Mqanduli-born former Transkei homeland ruler will work as deputy to former education minister Angie Motshekga who is now defence minister.
Holomisa’s party retained its two seats in the National Assembly last month..
Despite its representivity, Ramaphosa’s new cabinet has been blasted as bloated, with some ministries boasting two deputy ministers.
During his Sunday announcement, Ramaphosa said his intention to reduce the number of portfolios was impossible.
The cabinet has been growing over the years since the tenure of former president Thabo Mbeki who appointed 50 government ministers, including deputy ministers. The number is now 75.
Zabalaza Pathways Institute political analyst Mazibuko Jara said the appointments of Nyhontso and Godlimpi were “excellent”.
“Otherwise it’s too big, it’s unwieldy and it reflects a crazy alliance of people with different interests.
“There is going to be a lot of conflict.
“Zuko’s challenge will be to advance an industrial policy that can create jobs, but it will require appropriate macroeconomic policy, including fiscal policy.
“The fiscal policy which Godongwana and [David] Masondo are driving doesn’t allow industrialisation.”
Nkosikhulule Nyembezi, researcher, policy analyst and human rights activist, said Ramaphosa had had limited political capital and strictly defined constitutional parameters.
“It is a cabinet built to deliver and it also looks like a lineup meant to confront the opponents and maybe take them on should the unity government reach a deadlock in parliament, leading to another reconfiguration of the government at national, provincial and local levels.”
The SA Medical Association objected to the size of the cabinet.
SAMA chair Dr Mvuyisi Mzukwa said: “Our nation faces significant health challenges that require immediate and substantial investment, and this expanded cabinet diverts essential resources away from where they are needed most.
“In light of these appointments, SAMA recommends that austerity measures be put in place to trim the cabinet salary budget, including that of the president.”
DispatchLIVE
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.