Wednesday, April 28, 2004

New cabinet surprises

Former housing minister Brigitte Mabandla was named South Africa's new Justice Minister on Wednesday. Announcing his new cabinet, President Thabo Mbeki announced that Mabandla's portfolio would be taken over by Intelligence Minister Lindiwe Sisulu.

Former Sports Minister Ngconde Balfour would take over as Correctional Services Minister but continue work with the 2010 soccer bid. He also named Naledi Pandor as the new Minister of Education, taking over from the retiring Kader Asmal. Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula is the new minister of Home Affairs, replacing IFP leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi. The ministry of Public Enterprises has been handed to former Trade and Industry Minister Alec Erwin. He takes over from Jeff Radebe who becomes Transport Minister. Former Eastern Cape premier Makhenkesi Stofile becomes the Sports Minister, while the new post of Science and Technology Minister goes to Azanian People's Organisation leader Mosibudi Mangena. "This is a very strong team. I'm glad that when I spoke to them all last night and early this morning they responded well ... to the critical challenge which is the implementation of policy," Mbeki said after announcing the new cabinet.

Mbeki announced that the ministry of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology will be split into a ministry of Art and Culture and a ministry of Science and Technology. "We have not paid enough attention to Arts and Culture over the past ten years," Mbeki said, adding that science in its own right was important for the development of the country. There will also be three additional women in cabinet and two more women at the deputy position, he said. "As you can see we have not reached 50%," he said refering to the percentage of women in parliament.

A list of members of the cabinet and theire credentials can be found here.

Source: News 24

No comments:

Post a Comment