Ramaphosa Announces New Cabinet of 33 Ministers

July 1, 2024

(3 Minutes Read)

President Cyril Ramaphosa appointed the Democratic Alliance party’s leader John Steenhuisen as agriculture minister in his new cabinet

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa added two ministries to his cabinet, announcing 33 ministers late on Sunday, as he unveiled a new coalition cabinet that includes members from parties in the Government of National Unity (GNU).

Ramaphosa, who had previously vowed to trim the number of executive positions, said the expanded cabinet for the seventh administration was to ensure that all members of the GNU are included and to separate portfolios to “ensure that there is sufficient focus on key issues”.

President Cyril Ramaphosa appointed the Democratic Alliance party’s leader John Steenhuisen as agriculture minister in his new cabinet.

Ramaphosa reappointed the African National Congress’s Enoch Godongwana as finance minister and named Gwede Mantashe as mineral and petroleum resources minister, while Ronald Lamola was appointed minister of international relations and cooperation.

These men and women we have appointed to the executive are drawn from all corners of our country. 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.

A total of 11 political parties reached a deal to form the GNU after Ramaphosa’s African National Congress party, which had ruled South Africa without a coalition for the past three decades, lost its majority in the national and provincial elections on May 29.

Ramaphosa’s Cabinet announcement was delayed after intense bargaining and lengthy negotiations for Cabinet positions with 10 partners, particularly the second largest party DA. Ramaphosa was officially sworn in as the seventh democratically elected president on June 19 at a colorful ceremony in the capital Pretoria attended by several heads of state and leaders of government.\