New Cabinet seen as coup for the left

Cosatu and South African Communist Party leaders featured prominently in Jacob Zuma's new Cabinet announced in Pretoria on Sunday.

Among the key ministries allocated to the left is Economic Development, which will be headed by Cosatu’s clothing and textile [Sactwu] general secretary Ebrahim Patel. The Department of Trade and Industry will be led by SACP executive member Rob Davies while the Department of Higher Education and Training will be led by SACP general secretary Blade Nzimande.

The new Department of Women, Youth, Children and People with Disabilities will be led by Cosatu’s health union (Nehawu) president Noluthando Mayende-Sibiya.

SACP deputy general secretary was appointed deputy minister of the Department of Transport, while Ebrahim Ismail Ebrahim and Yunus Carrim -- both SACP leaders -- were also appointed deputy ministers of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation, formerly known as
the Department of Foreign Affairs, and Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, respectively.

SACP spokesperson Malesela Maleka said the party was proud that Zuma saw the capability in SACP leaders to lead key government ministries.

Source: Mail & Guardian