Members of the media,
Good afternoon and thank you for joining us.
We have since the launch of the ANC Manifesto indicated the type of new administration we envisaged in terms of size, shape and political focus.
We wanted a structure that would enable us to achieve visible and tangible socio-economic development within the next five years.
It should be a structure which would enable us to effectively implement our policies.
The structure of Cabinet and national departments has therefore been re-organised to achieve better alignment between the structure, our electoral mandate as per our election Manifesto, and the developmental challenges that need to receive immediate attention from government.
In summary, some of the changes in the structure of government are the following:
Following extensive research on international models on how governments in other parts of the world plan and monitor performance, we have decided to establish a National Planning Commission which will be based in the Presidency.
The NPC will be responsible for strategic planning for the country to ensure one National Plan to which all spheres of government would adhere.
This would enable us to take a more comprehensive view of socio-economic development in the country.
We have also created a monitoring and evaluation competency in the Presidency, to monitor and evaluate the performance of government in all three spheres.
There will therefore be two Ministers in the Presidency, one responsible for the NPC and the other for Monitoring and Evaluation as well as administration in the Presidency.
Other changes are the following:
* The Department of Minerals and Energy will be split into two separate departments of Mining and of Energy, each with a Minister.
* The Department of Education will be split into separate Ministries, one for Basic Education and the other for Higher Education and Training.
* The Department of Housing will be called the Department of Human Settlements to take on a more holistic focus.
* There will be a new department of Rural Development and Land Affairs, which are part of our key priorities for the next five years.
* The Department of Water affairs and Forestry becomes the Department of Water and Environmental Affairs.
* A new Department of Economic Development has been established to focus on economic policymaking. The implementation functions will remain with the Department of Trade and Industry.
* A new department of Tourism has been created.
* Agriculture becomes Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.
* The Department of Provincial and Local Government becomes Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs.
* A new Ministry has been created for Women, Youth, Children and People with Disability, to emphasise the need for equity and access to development opportunities for the vulnerable groups in our society.
The Cabinet that will fulfill our objectives is composed as follows:
The Deputy President of the Republic of South Africa will be Mr Kgalema Petros Motlanthe.
The rest of Cabinet in alphabetical order is as follows:
1. Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries - Tina Joemat-Pettersson
Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries - Dr Pieter Mulder
2. Minister of Arts and Culture - Lulu Xingwana
Deputy Minister of Arts and Culture - Paul Mashatile
3. Minister of Basic Education - Angie Motshekga
Deputy Minister of Basic Education - Enver Surty
4. Minister of Communications - Siphiwe Nyanda
Deputy Minister of Communications - Dina Pule
5. Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs - Sicelo Shiceka
Deputy Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs - Yunus Carrim
6. Minister of Correctional Services - Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula
Deputy Minister of Correctional Services - Hlengiwe Mkhize
7. Minister of Defence and Military Veterans - Lindiwe Sisulu
Deputy Minister of Defence and Military Veterans - Thabang Makwetla
8. Minister of Economic Development - Ebrahim Patel
Deputy Minister of Economic Development - Gwen Mahlangu-Nkabinde
9. Minister of Energy - Dipuo Peters
10. Minister of Finance - Pravin Gordhan
Deputy Minister of Finance - Nhlanhla Nene
11. Minister of Health - Dr Aaron Motsoaledi
Deputy Minister of Health - Dr Molefi Sefularo
12. Minister of Higher Education and Training - Dr Blade Nzimande
13. Minister of Home Affairs - Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma
Deputy Minister of Home Affairs - Malusi Gigaba
14. Minister of Human Settlements - Tokyo Sexwale
Deputy Minister of Human Settlements - Zou Kota
15. Minister of International Relations and Cooperation - Maite Nkoana-Mashabane
Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation (1) - Ebrahim Ismail Ebrahim
Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation (2) - Sue van der Merwe
16. Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development - Jeff Radebe
Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development - Andries Nel
17. Minister of Labour - Membathisi Mdladlana
18. Minister of Mining - Susan Shabangu
19. Minister of Police - Nathi Mthethwa
Deputy Minister of Police - Fikile Mbalula
20. Minister of Public Enterprises - Barbara Hogan
Deputy Minister of Public Enterprises - Enoch Godongwana
21. Minister for the Public Service and Administration - Richard Baloyi
Deputy Minister for the Public Service and Administration - Roy Padayachie
22. Minister of Public Works - Geoff Doidge
Deputy Minister of Public Works - Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu
23. Minister of Rural Development and Land Reform - Gugile Nkwinti
Deputy Minister of Rural Development and Land Reform - Dr Joe Phaahla
24. Minister of Science and Technology - Naledi Pandor
Deputy Minister of Science and Technology - Derek Hanekom
25. Minister of Social Development - Edna Molewa
Deputy Minister of Social Development - Bathabile Dlamini
26. Minister of Sport and Recreation - Makhenkesi Stofile
Deputy Minister of Sport and Recreation - Gert Oosthuizen
27. Minister of State Security - Siyabonga Cwele
28. Minister in The Presidency (1)
National Planning Commission - Trevor Manuel
29. Minister in The Presidency (2)
Performance Monitoring and Evaluation as well as Administration in the Presidency - Collins Chabane
30. Minister of Tourism - Marthinus van Schalkwyk
Deputy Minister of Tourism - Thozile Xasa
31. Minister of Trade and Industry - Rob Davies
Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry (1) - Thandi Tobias
Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry (2) - Maria Ntuli
32. Minister of Transport - Sbusiso Joel Ndebele
Deputy Minister of Transport - Jeremy Cronin
33. Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs - Buyelwa Sonjica
Deputy Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs - Rejoice Mabhudafhasi
34. Minister of Women, Youth, Children and People with Disabilities - Noluthando Mayende-Sibiya
We stated clearly during the campaign that we want an efficient, caring and effective administration, which will be accessible and responsive to the needs of the people.
We reiterate that we will not tolerate laziness and incompetence, and that we will emphasise excellence and achievement from the Cabinet and the public service.
With these objectives in mind, I am confident that the new structure of government will enable the state machinery to speed up service delivery.
Civil servants will not lose their jobs as a result of these changes. This is a matter of principle in terms of the country’s labour relations dispensation.
I however want to stress to our public servants that the era of hard work has begun. Public servants who do their work diligently and efficiently have nothing to worry about.
I wish the new team all the best with their responsibilities.
We request the South African public and all key sectors of our society to support them in their national service.
Let me also take this opportunity to wish all South African mothers well on Mother’s Day today.
Mothers are the backbones of our families, communities and our nation.
We truly appreciate their role in our society, in both the public sphere and within families.
I thank you.
Issued by: Government Communications (GCIS)
10 May 2009
