A new National Executive has been appointed to take South Africa forward under the leadership of President Jacob Zuma.
Following South Africa’s fifth democratic elections, 35 ministers and 37 deputy ministers have been sworn into office, along with the country’s new Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa.
The members of the National Executive boast a wealth of experience with some ministers retaining their positions, while new ministers and deputy ministers have also been appointed.
President Zuma also announced the creation of new ministries in a bid to transform the economy, tackle youth unemployment and promote rural development. Some departments have changed, while others have combined.
“To improve implementation and ensure impact, we have reconfigured some departments while others have been expanded to improve capacity,” the President explained.
“We have established a Ministry of Telecommunications and Postal Services. Our country has a fast growing telecommunications sector, which in 2012 was estimated at being worth R180 billion. We also see a great developmental value in the Post Office given its role of delivering financial services to remote areas of our country.
“This new department will ensure that the country derives more value out of the booming information communications and technology industry and the postal services sector. “The National Planning Commission as well as the Performance Monitoring and Evaluation Ministries in the Presidency have been combined into one Ministry to harmonise the planning and monitoring functions. This Ministry will also continue to be responsible for youth development.
“We have established a new Communications Ministry, which will be responsible for overarching communication policy and strategy, information dissemination and publicity as well as the branding of the country abroad. Improved communication and marketing will promote an informed citizenry and also assist the country to promote investments, economic growth and job creation.
“This Ministry will be formed out of the following components;
- The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA)
- The SA Broadcasting Corporation (SABC)
- Government Communications and Information System (GCIS)
- Brand SA and
- The Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA).
“The functions related to support for people with disabilities and children, will be transferred to the Department of Social Development. The current Ministry of Women, Children and People with Disability is now the Ministry of Women, which will be located in the Presidency. The Women’s Ministry will champion the achievement of women’s socioeconomic empowerment and women’s rights.
“To further improve efficiency in the criminal justice system, we have combined the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development with the Correctional Services department. The Department will now be called the Department of Justice and Correctional Services.
“We have made an undertaking to significantly improve the provision of water and sanitation to our communities in the new term. In this regard, we have established the Ministry of Water and Sanitation.
“… we stated in the inauguration address that the economy will take centre-stage. The development of the small business sector is critical to economic development and transformation. We have thus established a new Ministry for Small Business Development,” President Zuma said, before announcing the names of the ministers and their deputies.
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