A man with both arms raised President Cyril Ramaphosa announced wholesale changes to his Cabinet, reconfiguring the security cluster after wide riots in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal. File picture: ANA
PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa has taken reins of the country’s intelligence services by removing the ministerial position and moving the department into his office, following widespread criticism of South Africa’s spooks in the recent violence that hit Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal.
“The second change we are making is to do away with the ministry of state security and place political responsibility for the State Security Agency in the Presidency. This is to ensure that the country’s domestic and foreign intelligence services more effectively enable the president to exercise his responsibility to safeguard the security and integrity of the nation,” said Ramaphosa in a televised address.
Announcing anticipated changes to the national executive, Ramaphosa earlier said South Africa is at a critical epoch, working to accelerate the vaccination programme to overcome the Covid-19 pandemic.
“I am therefore making changes to the National Executive to improve the capacity of government to effectively undertake these tasks. At the same time, there are a number of vacancies that need to be filled. These include vacancies created by the tragic passing of Minister Jackson Mthembu and Deputy Minister Bavelile Hlongwa, and the appointment of former Deputy Minister Parks Tau as an MEC in Gauteng,” he said.
“A further vacancy has arisen following the request I have received from Minister Zwelini Mkhize to allow him to step down as the minister of health in order to bring certainty and stability to this important portfolio.”
Ramaphosa announced that he has also accepted “a long-standing request by Tito Mboweni to be excused from his position as South Africa’s Minister of Finance.
“We are making certain changes to the configuration of government departments and ministries. The first of these is to separate the ministry of human settlements from the ministry of water and sanitation. At the beginning of this administration, we had brought these two portfolios together on the understanding that the provision of water is closely tied to the development of human settlements,” said Ramaphosa.
With respect to ministers, Ramaphosa made the following new appointments:
The Presidency: Mondli Gungubele
Communications and Digital Technologies: Khumbudzo Ntshavheni
Defence and Military Veterans: Thandi Modise
Finance: Enoch Godongwana
Health: Joe Phaahla
Human Settlements: Mmamoloko Kubayi
Public Service and Administration: Ayanda Dlodlo
Small Business Development: Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams
Tourism: Ms Lindiwe Sisulu
Water and Sanitation: Senzo Mchunu
Ramaphosa announced that erstwhile defence minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula would be deployed “to a new position, and we thank her for service to the nation and dedication to her responsibilities”.