South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced a cabinet reshuffle that introduces changes to several ministerial and deputy ministerial positions, including appointments proposed by the Democratic Alliance (DA) as part of the Government of National Unity (GNU). The reshuffle also marks the return of former communications minister Dina Pule to the national executive more than a decade after she left office following ethics-related findings.
Ramaphosa said the adjustments affecting DA-held positions were made following consultations with the party, which joined the GNU after the 2024 general election. The latest changes are intended to maintain cooperation within the multi-party administration while filling key vacancies and reorganising responsibilities across government departments.
Under the reshuffle, Willem Aucamp has been appointed Minister of Agriculture, while David Maynier will lead the Ministry of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment. Several deputy ministerial appointments were also announced. John Steenhuisen moves to the position of Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Alexandra Abrahams becomes Deputy Minister of Electricity and Energy, Jack Bloom takes over as Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation, and Yusuf Cassim has been appointed Deputy Minister of Higher Education.
Dina Pule returns after more than a decade
Alongside the DA-related appointments, Ramaphosa named Dina Pule as the new Minister of Social Development. The portfolio became vacant after former minister Sisisi Tolashe was dismissed in May following a series of allegations and controversies.
Pule currently serves as Deputy Secretary-General of the ANC Women’s League and had been widely identified in previous reports as a likely candidate for the position.
Her appointment, however, has drawn renewed attention to her earlier political career. Pule previously served as Minister of Communications under former president Jacob Zuma after holding deputy ministerial roles in both the Presidency and the communications portfolio.
Her tenure as communications minister became overshadowed by allegations of unethical conduct linked to her personal relationship with a businessman who allegedly benefited from his association with her. Investigations by the Public Protector concluded that she had acted unethically and had failed to fully disclose aspects of the relationship during the investigation.
In 2013, then Public Protector Thuli Madonsela instructed Pule to apologise to Parliament, citing persistent dishonesty and unethical conduct. Parliament’s Ethics and Members’ Interests Committee subsequently found that she had breached the Executive Members’ Ethics Code.
She was reprimanded, suspended by Parliament and later removed from cabinet during Zuma’s 2013 cabinet reshuffle.
GNU continues evolving through cabinet adjustments
After spending more than ten years outside frontline national politics, Pule returned to Parliament as an ANC Member of Parliament following South Africa’s 2024 general election. Her appointment to cabinet represents one of the most closely watched aspects of Ramaphosa’s latest executive changes.
The reshuffle also reflects the continuing evolution of the Government of National Unity, established after no single party secured an outright parliamentary majority in the 2024 election. Since its formation, coalition partners have continued negotiating executive responsibilities while seeking to balance political representation with government stability.
Ramaphosa concluded his announcement by congratulating all newly appointed ministers and deputy ministers, expressing confidence that they would contribute to effective governance and service delivery in their new portfolios.
Source: The Citizen