President Cyril Ramaphosa’s new ministers were sworn in at Tuynhuys in Cape Town on Tuesday evening after his much-anticipated Cabinet reshuffle.
A jovial Paul Mashatile was sworn as South Africa’s deputy president, and took a seat next to Ramaphosa afterwards.
Ramokgopa, who has a civil engineering qualification, is tasked with turning around the fortunes of the ailing power utility, Eskom.
Chief Justice Raymond Zondo presided over the swearing-in ceremony of the new members of the executive.
Zizi Kodwa, who was promoted to minister of sports, arts and culture, and former KwaZulu-Natal premier Sihle Zikalala were also sworn in.
Zikalala takes over from former public works minister Patricia de Lille, who is now the tourism minister.
Several deputies were also sworn in.
Among those deputies was Dipuo Peters, who served as minister of transport under former president Jacob Zuma, and was appointed deputy minister of small business development.
On Monday evening Ramaphosa, announced several changes to his executive.
He fired Lindiwe Sisulu, Nathi Mthethwa and Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, as well as deputy ministers Phumulo Masualle, Sdumo Dlamini and Thembi Siweya.
During his address on Monday evening, Ramaphosa said: “I have sought to balance the need for new skills and capabilities to drive the agenda that we outlined in the State of the Nation Address with the important task of ensuring stability and continuity in the work of government.”
He added that the minister of electricity would remain in office only for as long as it was necessary to resolve the load shedding crisis.
Source : News 24
