Zuma shuffles Cabinet; Pule out

(Image: GCIS)

During a special media briefing held at the Union Buildings in Pretoria on Tuesday afternoon, President Zuma announced several changes to the national executive, saying that "20 years of democracy in South Africa had changed the lives of South Africans" and that the past five years "has pushed that change forward".

Changes to the national executive

The new Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs will be Lechesa Tsenoli. He replaces Richard Baloyi, who served in the ministry after the death of Sicelo Shiceka.

Tsenoli will be leaving his current portfolio as Deputy Minister of Rural Development and Land Reform.

The Human Settlements portfolio also sees a change. The ministry will now fall under the leadership of Connie September, while the new Minister of Communications will be Yunus Carrim.

September is currently a Member of Parliament and Member of the Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry and Portfolio Committee on Water Affairs and Forestry. Carrim is currently the Deputy Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs.

Transport Minister Ben Martins will move to Energy, while Minister Dipuo Peters moves to Transport.

The Deputy Minister appointments are as follows:
• Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development - John Jefferey (currently a Parliamentary Counsellor);
• Deputy Minister of Science and Technology - Michael Masutha (currently a Member of Parliament);
• Deputy Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs - Andries Nel; and
• Deputy Minister of Rural Development and Land Reform - Pamela Tshwete (currently a Member of Parliament).

"We thank the outgoing Ministers for their contribution in taking the work of government forward and creating a better life for all. We wish all incoming members of the National Executive all the best in their new portfolios," said President Zuma.