Cabinet reshuffle: Kgosientsho Ramokgopa in electricity hot seat

President Cyril Ramaphosa announced several key changes to his administration on Monday night, largely targeted at dealing with South Africa’s escalating energy crisis and improving governance in the country.

Ramaphosa appointed Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa to the role of “Minister of Electricity”. This is one of the key new ministerial roles in government and will fall within the presidency.

Ramokgopa (48) is a key ally and the president’s former investment and infrastructure czar. He is also the former mayor of the City of Tshwane.

Ramaphosa said the “Minister in the Presidency responsible for resolving the electricity crisis” has “the primary task … to significantly reduce the severity and frequency of load shedding as a matter of urgency”.

Energy Action Plan

He noted that the minister will have the political responsibility and authority over the country’s Energy Action Plan that was developed to help fast track the government’s plans in dealing with load shedding.

“This will help to deal with the challenge of fragmentation of responsibility across various departments and ministers which, while appropriate under normal circumstances, is not conducive to a crisis response,” Ramaphosa added.

Read: Ramaphosa’s energy interventions get the nod from industry heavyweights

“The Minister will be expected to facilitate the coordination of the numerous departments and entities involved in the crisis response, work with the Eskom leadership to turn around the performance of existing power stations, and accelerate the procurement of new generation capacity,” he said.

Ramaphosa announced his new cabinet on Monday evening, later than initially scheduled. Before eventually taking to the podium around 8:40pm, the president had planned to deliver his announcement at 7pm, but later rescheduled to 8:30pm.

As expected, Paul Mashatile was announced Deputy President, following David Mabuza’s resignation.

Read: Ramaphosa appoints Mashatile as deputy president

Another key change is the introduction of a new ministry for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, to be led by Maropene Ramokgopa as minister, and Pinky Kekana as deputy, who will oversee the performance of government.

‘Bare minimum effort’

Ramaphosa’s changes, largely focused on the urgent issues South Africa currently faces, are seen as a bare minimum effort likely to help the ANC clinch support in next year’s general elections, according to Nelson Mandela University political analyst Ongama Mtimka.

Speaking to Moneyweb following the reshuffle announcement, Mtimka said Ramaphosa’s rejig of his administration was basic, adding that he’d chosen an “easy path”.

“The president has seemingly resolved to do the basic minimum when it comes to the cabinet reshuffle, focusing mostly on the most urgent and necessary changes politically,” he said.

“This means he’s chosen the easier path and it’s understandable given the fact that there is just a year to go to another election,” added Mtimka.

Among some of the key movers were provincial representatives landing national roles, such as former City of Joburg mayor Parks Tau, and former KwaZulu-Natal premier Sihle Zikalala.

Tau has been appointed Deputy Minister for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, while Zikalala is the new Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure.

Zizi Kodwa, who has been a member of parliament since 2019 and held the role of deputy minister in the presidency for State Security of South Africa, also ascends to a head a ministry in Ramaphosa’s new cabinet, becoming Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture.

A notable chop was Lindiwe Sisulu, who has been criticised publicly for the controversial R1 billion Tottenham Hotspur sponsorship deal that was proposed by tourism agency, SA Tourism. Sisulu is replaced Patricia de Lille, who was named Minister of Tourism.

Read: Ramaphosa pans Tottenham Hotspur sponsorship deal

Ramaphosa’s cabinet also has a strong female showing, represented by Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, in the Ministry of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni as Minister in the Presidency and Noxolo Kiviet as the new Minister of Public Service and Administration, among others.

Below is a full list of newly appointed ministers and deputy ministers.

New ministers:

• Minister in the Presidency – Ms Khumbudzo Ntshavheni
• Minister in the Presidency responsible for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities – Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma
• Minister in the Presidency responsible for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation – Ms Maropene Ramokgopa
• Minister in the Presidency responsible for Electricity – Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa
• Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies – Mr Mondli Gungubele
• Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs – Ms Thembi Nkadimeng
• Minister of Public Service and Administration – Ms Noxolo Kiviet
• Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure – Mr Sihle Zikalala
• Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture – Mr Zizi Kodwa
• Minister of Tourism – Ms Patricia de Lille
• Minister of Transport – Ms Sindisiwe Chikunga.

New deputy ministers: 

• Deputy Ministers in the Presidency – Ms Nomasonto Motaung and Mr Kenneth Morolong
• Deputy Minister in the Presidency responsible for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities – Ms Sisisi Tolashe
• Deputy Minister in the Presidency responsible for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation – Ms Pinky Kekana
• There are now two deputy ministers for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs – Mr Parks Tau and Mr Zolile Burns-Ncamashe
• There are now two deputy ministers for Water and Sanitation – Mr David Mahlobo and Ms Judith Tshabalala
• Deputy Minister of Public Works – Ms Bernice Swarts
• Deputy Minister of Small Business Development – Ms Dipuo Peters
• Deputy Minister of Public Enterprises – Mr Obed Bapela
• Deputy Minister of Transport – Mr Lisa Mangcu.