New Ministers ready to work for SA

The new members of the National Executive, who were sworn in recently, say they are ready to serve the people of South Africa and work towards stabilising the economy.

The new members were recently sworn in at a ceremony officiated by Chief Justice Raymond Zondo and President Cyril Ramaphosa in attendance.

Chief Justice Zondo presided over the swearing-in of Deputy President Paul Mashatile and other new members of the National Executive at Tuynhuys in Cape Town.

Deputy President Mashatile led seven Ministers and nine Deputy Ministers in taking their oath of office.

Deputy President Mashatile’s appointment follows the resignation of former Deputy President David Mabuza.

 President Ramaphosa said the purpose of the changes to the Cabinet was to ensure that the government is properly capacitated and directed to give effect to the commitments made in the State of the Nation Address and the Budget Speech.

He reiterated that all parts of government are focused on addressing issues that concern South Africans the most, that is loadshedding, unemployment, poverty and the rising cost of living, including crime and corruption.

“We have said that the people of South Africa want action, they want solutions and they want the government to work for them,” emphasised President Ramaphosa.

Ministers who were sworn in include the newly established Ministy in the Presidency Responsible for Electricity, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa.

President Ramaphosa explained that the Minister of Electricity in the Presidency will also be empowered to carry out urgent actions needed to resolve the energy crisis through the recently gazetted National State of Disaster-related to electricity regulations.

“The recently published disaster regulations empower the Minister of Electricity to issue directions to, among others, exclude critical facilities from load shedding where technically feasible; expedite various regulatory processes for energy projects; and enable Eskom to undertake critical maintenance quicker and efficiently.

“The Minister in the Presidency for Electricity will liaise with other relevant Ministers to ensure coherence in the issuing of other directions during the National State of Disaster,” he said.

Speaking to the media following his swearing in, Minister Ramokgopa said he is going to be a “hands-on” Minister, who will focus on reducing the frequency and intensity of rolling blackouts.

"What will help is that I am an engineer and engineers are trained to resolve problems, so this is my forte… I am more than confident that we will resolve load shedding,” said Minister Ramokgopa.

New National Executive

The President made the following changes to his Cabinet:

• Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Mondli Gungubele.
• Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Thembi Nkadimeng.
• Minister of Public Service and Administration, Noxolo Kiviet.
• Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Sihle Zikalala.
• Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Zizi Kodwa.
• Minister of Tourism, Patricia de Lille.
• Minister of Transport, Sindisiwe Chikunga.

The President appointed the following Deputy Ministers:

• 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.
• Two Deputy Ministers for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Parks Tau and Zolile Burns-Ncamashe.
• 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.

- SAnews.gov.za