• On Sunday President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the line-up of ministers and deputy ministers in the Government of National Unity.
• The GNU is comprised of 11 political parties with ANC members making up the majority of the new cabinet.
• Unfortunately the GNU means that plans to reduce the overall number of ministers have fallen by the wayside.

Late on Sunday night, over a month after South Africans cast their vote in the National and Provincial Elections, newly re-elected President of the Republic, Cyril Ramaphosa announced new members of the National Executive.

Given that the ANC didn’t win an outright majority in these last elections, it was all but forced to enter into a coalition with several other parties under what has been dubbed the Government of National Unity (GNU). The GNU has been the subject of rampant speculation over the last few weeks but the official members now include:

• African National Congress,
• Democratic Alliance,
• Patriotic Alliance,
• Inkatha Freedom Party,
• Good Party,
• Pan Africanist Congress of Azania,
• Freedom Front Plus,
• United Democratic Movement,
• Al Jama-ah,
• Rise Mzansi,
• United Africans Transformation.

“The partnership between the GNU parties is guided by a Statement of Intent, which outlines fundamental principles and a minimum programme of priorities. All the parties have made a commitment to respect the constitution and to promote a accountable and transparent governance, evidence-based policy and decision-making, the professionalisation of the public service, integrity and good governance,” Ramaphosa said on Sunday evening.

The President acknowledged that the formation of the GNU and discussions about who would form part of the alliance may have taken longer than expected but robust discussions were required for such a momentous agreement.

“Through our discussions we have been able to build consensus on the tasks of government. We have shown that there are no problems that are too difficult or too intractable that they cannot be solved through dialogue,” the President said.

The bad news for South Africans is that despite plans to lower the number of positions in the National Executive, given the formation of the GNU, this can’t be done as all parties in the alliance need to be represented in the cabinet. However, some portfolios have been merged, given they cover similar areas. In some instances, departments will be split.

For starters, the departments of energy and electricity will be merged into one department. There will be a separate ministry of Mineral and Petroleum Resources. The ministry of Agriculture will be separated from the ministry of Land Reform and Rural Development. The ministry of Higher Education will be separated from the ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation and the ministry of Justice and Constitutional Development will be separated from the ministry of Correctional Services.

Furthermore, there will no longer be a Ministry of Public Enterprises, instead this will now form part of the Presidency.

As for the Ministers, they are:

• Deputy President – Paul Mashatile,
• Minister of Agriculture – John Steenhuisen,
• Deputy Minister of Agriculture – Rosemary Nokuzola Capa,
• Minister of Land Reform and Rural Development – Mzwanele Nyhontso,
• Deputy Minister of Land Reform and Rural Development – Chupu Stanley Mathabatha,
• Minister of Basic Education – Siviwe Gwarube,
• Deputy Minister of Basic Education – Reginah Mhaule,
• Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies – Solly Malatsi,
• Deputy Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies – Mondli Gungubele,
• Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs – Velinkosi Hlabisa,
• Deputy Ministers of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs – Dickson Masemola and Zolile Burns‐Ncamashe,
• Minister of Defence and Military Veterans – Angie Motshekga,
• Deputy Ministers of Defence and Military Veterans – Bantu Holomisa and Richard Mkhungo,
• Minister of Electricity and Energy – Kgosientsho Ramokgopa,
• Deputy Minister of Electricity and Energy – Samantha Graham,
• Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation – Blade Nzimande,
• Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation – Nomalungelo Gina,
• Minister of Employment and Labour – Nomakhosazana Meth,
• Deputy Ministers of Employment and Labour – Jomo Sibiya and Phumzile Mgcina,
• Minister of Finance – Enoch Godongwana,
• Deputy Ministers of Finance – David Masondo and Ashor Sarupen,
• Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment – Dion George,
• Deputy Ministers of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment – Narend Singh and Bernice Swarts,
• Minister of Health – Aaron Motsoaledi,
• Deputy Minister of Health – Joe Phaahla,
• Minister of Higher Education – Nobuhle Nkabane,
• Deputy Ministers of Higher Education – Buti Manamela and Mimmy Gondwe,
• Minister of Home Affairs – Leon Schreiber,
• Deputy Minister of Home Affairs – Njabulo Nzuza,
• Minister of Human Settlements – Mmamoloko Kubayi,
• Deputy Minister of Human Settlements – Tandi Mahambehlala,
• Minister of International Relations and Cooperation – Ronald Lamola,
• Deputy Ministers of International Relations and Cooperation – Alvin Botes and Tandi Moraka,
• Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development – Thembi Nkadimeng,
• Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development – Andries Nel,
• Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources – Gwede Mantashe,
• Deputy Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources – Judith Nemadzinga‐Tshabalala,
• Minister of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation – Maropene Ramokgopa,
• Deputy Minister of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation – Seiso Moha,
• Minister of Police – Senzo Mchunu,
• Deputy Ministers of Police – Polly Boshielo and Cassel Mathale,
• Minister in the Presidency – Khumbudzo Ntshavheni,
• Deputy Ministers in the Presidency – Nonceba Mhlauli and Kenneth Morolong,
• Minister of Public Service and Administration – Mzamo Buthelezi,
• Deputy Minister of Public Service and Administration – Pinky Kekana,
• Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure – Dean Macpherson,
• Deputy Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure – Sihle Zikalala,
• Minister of Small Business Development – Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams,
• Deputy Minister of Small Business Development – Jane Sithole,
• Minister of Social Development – Sisisi Tolashe,
• Deputy Minister of Social Development – Ganief Hendricks,
• Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture – Gayton McKenzie,
• Deputy Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture – Peace Mabe,
• Minister of Tourism – Patricia De Lille,
• Deputy Minister of Tourism is Maggie Sotyu,
• Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition – Parks Tau,
• Deputy Ministers of Trade, Industry and Competition – Zuko Godlimpi and Andrew Whitfield,
• Minister of Transport – Barbara Creecy,
• Deputy Minister of Transport – Mkhuleko Hlengwa,
• Minister of Water and Sanitation – Pemmy Majodina,
• Deputy Ministers of Water and Sanitation – David Mahlobo and Isaac Seitlholo,
• Minister of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities – Sindisiwe Chikunga,
• Deputy Minister of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities – Mmapaseka Steve Letsike,
• Minister of Correctional Services – Pieter Groenewald,
• Deputy Minister of Correctional Services – Lindiwe Ntshalintshali.

“None of the members of the National Executive has been appointed to serve the interests of a particular constituency, a particular party or a particular section of society,” said Ramaphosa. “Collectively and individually, they are responsible to the people of South Africa. In the spirit of partnership and collaboration, the incoming government will work together with other formations to convene a National Dialogue.”

This group of ministers and their deputies have a hard task ahead of them and the eyes of South Africa will be watching the job these folks do closely.