The biggest winner in Ramaphosa’s 77-seat cabinet
Despite only making up 55% of the Government of National Unity, the African National Congress (ANC) dominates all its partners, taking up almost 70% of cabinet positions.
After two weeks of negotiations between parties, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced his 77-member national executive for the Seventh administration in a late-night address on 30 June 2024.
This includes the President, Deputy President, ministers and their deputies from the ANC, DA, IFP, PA, PAC, UDM, FF Plus, AL Jama-ah, and GOOD parties.
This Executive, comprising of some of the political parties forming part of the Government of National Unity (GNU), is an increase from the 65 members in his sixth administration to make it the largest national executive in the country’s democratic history.
“In the course of the sixth democratic administration, we indicated our intention to reduce the number of portfolios in the national executive [however]… this has not been possible,” said Ramaphosa during the announcement.
“This is the first time in South Africa’s history that such a broad range of parties, from across the political spectrum, will constitute a government,” said Ramaphosa in his weekly letter to the nation.
To accommodate the wants of the ANC, its alliance partners, and members of the GNU, the President said that he decided to adjust the Cabinet, making several changes including:
- Merging the Ministries of Electricity and Energy;
- Establishing a Ministry for Mineral and Petroleum Resources;
- Separating the Ministry of Agriculture from Land Reform and Rural Development.
- Separating Higher Education from Science, Technology and Innovation.
- Splitting Justice and Constitutional Development from Correctional Services.
- Dissolving the Ministry of Public Enterprises.
The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse CEO Wayne Duvenage said that they are “disappointed” with the “bloating of Cabinet.”
“We believe that some of these additional Ministries have been put in place just to accommodate people who are close to the ANC,” Duvenage told SABC.
Cabinet was “already over bloated, a massive cost to society, a massive cost to this country so adding more expenses,” is not the right way forward, he added.
Looking at the ministers, there were 32 appointed (up from 30), made up of:
- ANC – 20;
- DA – 6;
- IFP – 2;
- PA – 1;
- FF + – 1;
- PAC – 1;
- GOOD – 1;
Of note is that the ANC regained its ministerial control over the country’s economic cluster (although they are met with deputies from other parties), particularly with the Finance and Trade, Industry and Competition portfolios other parties were eyeing.
The Finance Ministry will see continuity with minister Enoch Godongwana remaining in his position, with David Masondo—and new deputy, the DA’s Ashor Surapen—in tow.
Analysts at Rand Merchant Bank said Ramaphosa’s retention of Godongwana as finance minister was particularly significant for domestic markets, signaling a continuation of a prudent fiscal approach and adherence to projections outlined in the February budget and medium-term expenditure framework.
Looking at the deputy ministers, this increased from 35 to 43, including:
- ANC – 33;
- DA – 6;
- IFP – 2;
- UDM – 1;
- Al Jama-ah – 1.
| Deputy Ministry Position | 7th Administration |
|---|---|
| The Presidency | Nonceba Mhlauli (ANC) & and Kenneth Morolong (ANC) |
| Women, Youth and Persons With Disabilities | Mmapaseka Steve Letsike (ANC) |
| Electricity and Energy | Samantha Graham (DA) |
| Agriculture | Rosemary Nokuzola Capa (ANC) |
| Basic Education | Reginah Mhaule (ANC) |
| Communications and Digital Technologies | Mondli Gungubele (ANC) |
| Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs | Dickson Masemola (ANC) and Zolile Burns‐Ncamashe (ANC) |
| Correctional Services | Lindiwe Ntshalintshali (ANC) |
| Defence and Military Veterans | Bantu Holomisa (UDM) and Richard Mkhungo (ANC) |
| Employment and Labour | Jomo Sibiya (ANC) and Phumzile Mgcina (ANC) |
| Environment, Forestry and Fisheries | Narend Singh (IFP) and Bernice Swarts (ANC) |
| Finance | David Masondo (ANC) and Ashor Sarupen (DA) |
| Health | Dr. Joe Phaahla (ANC) |
| Science, Technology and Innovation | Nomalungelo Gina (ANC) |
| Higher Education | Buti Manamela (ANC) and Mimmy Gondwe (DA) |
| Home Affairs | Njabulo Nzuza (ANC) |
| Human Settlements | Tandi Mahambehlala (ANC) |
| International Relations and Cooperation | Alvin Botes (ANC) and Tandi Moraka (ANC) |
| Justice and Constitutional Development | Andries Nel (ANC) |
| Land Reform | Chupu Stanley Mathabatha (ANC) |
| Mineral and Petroleum Resources | Judith Nemadzinga‐Tshabalala (ANC) |
| Police | Polly Boshielo (ANC) and Cassel Mathale (ANC) |
| Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation | Seiso Mohai (ANC) |
| Public Service and Administration | Pinky Kekana (ANC) |
| Public Works and Infrastructure | Sihle Zikalala (ANC) |
| Small Business Development | Jane Sithole (DA) |
| Social Development | Ganief Hendricks (Al Jama-ah) |
| Sports, Arts and Culture | Peace Mabe (ANC) |
| Tourism | Maggie Sotyu (ANC) |
| Trade, Industry and Competition | Zuko Godlimpi (ANC) and Andrew Whitfield (DA) |
| Transport | Mkhuleko Hlengwa (IFP) |
| Water and Sanitation | David Mahlobo (ANC) and Isaac Seitlholo (DA) |
Independent analyst Michael Atkins highlighted that the biggest winners in all of this can be seen to be the ANC.
The party makes up just over 55% of the GNU composition (and 40% of the national vote), but received over 71% of the National Executive
“A fair set of posts would have seen the DA with 9 full Ministers, and the ANC with 17 [which is] on top of the fact that the ANC has the president and Deputy-President,” said Atkins.
“The naming of the cabinet is only the start of the government of national unity and hard work now lies ahead for a diverse group of people that needs to put party affiliation aside and pull in the same direction to address South Africa’s many structural challenges,” Oxford Economics Africa Senior Political Analyst Louw Nel said in a note.
Read: Ramaphosa announces new cabinet – these are all the new ministers and deputies
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