Lindiwe Sisulu replaced by Patricia de Lille as tourism minister

President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced changes to his Cabinet, replacing Lindiwe Sisulu with Patricia de Lille in the ministry of tourism.

Other ministers who did not return include Nathi Mthethwa, who has been replaced with Zizi Kodwa and Maite Nkoana-Mashabane.

While several analysts have argued Ramaphosa would use the Cabinet reshuffle to keep his allies close, the president on Monday evening said the changes were not about overhauling the national executive, but “intended to fill vacancies that have occurred in the Executive and to direct government more effectively towards the areas that require urgent and decisive action.”

ANC deputy president Paul Mashatile was appointed as the country’s deputy president, while Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa will be heading the ministry of electricity.

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

“All members of the Executive have been directed to focus on those agreed actions that will make
a meaningful difference now, that will enable real progress within the next year and that will lay a
foundation for a sustained recovery into the future.”

New ministries

Ramaphosa’s Cabinet will have two new ministries – Minister for Electricity and Minister for Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluation.

The latter will focus greater attention on the performance of the government.

“While this will result in an increase in the number of ministries in the short term, as indicated in the State of the Nation Address, I have instructed the Presidency and National Treasury to develop a proposal to rationalize government departments, entities, and programmes to ensure greater efficiency,” said Ramaphosa.

“This work, which will result in the reduction of the number of Ministries, will inform the configuration of government going into the next administration.”

Ramaphosa’s appointments:

• Minister in the Presidency – Ms Khumbudzo Ntshavheni
• Minister in the Presidency responsible for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities – Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma
• Minister in the Presidency responsible for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation – Ms Maropene Ramokgopa
• Minister in the Presidency responsible for Electricity – Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa
• Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies – Mr Mondli Gungubele
• Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs – Ms Thembi Nkadimeng
• Minister of Public Service and Administration – Ms Noxolo Kiviet
• Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure – Mr Sihle Zikalala
• Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture – Mr Zizi Kodwa
• Minister of Tourism – Ms Patricia de Lille
• Minister of Transport – Ms Sindisiwe Chikunga

Deputy ministers

• Deputy Ministers in the Presidency – Ms Nomasonto Motaung and Mr Kenneth Morolong
• Deputy Minister in the Presidency responsible for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities – Ms Sisisi Tolashe
• Deputy Minister in the Presidency responsible for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation – Ms Pinky Kekana
• Deputy Ministers for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs – Mr Parks Tau and Mr Zolile Burns-Ncamashe
• Deputy Ministers for Water and Sanitation – Mr David Mahlobo and Ms Judith Tshabalala
• Deputy Minister of Public Works – Ms Bernice Swarts
• Deputy Minister of Small Business Development – Ms Dipuo Peters
• Deputy Minister of Public Enterprises – Mr Obed Bapela
• Deputy Minister of Transport – Mr Lisa Mangcu

In other news – Police say drug overdose might have killed Pearl Shongwe

Late radio news reader Pearl Shongwe‘s cause of death has been suspected to be a drug overdose. A local publication reports that police officers found drugs in her bedroom when they did a cleanup at her home.

“We suspect drug overdose because we have found drugs in her bedroom when we were combing the house for possible leads to her death,” the police officer told the publication. They further stated that they are looking into surveillance cameras to determine who might have been the last person to be with Shongwe while she was alive. Learn More