South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed Democratic Alliance (DA) party leader, John Steenhuisen as the country’s agriculture minister as he unveiled his cabinet on Sunday.
In a televised broadcast, Ramaphosa said Deputy President Paul Mashatile will continue in his position, as will Patricia de Lille in the Tourism Ministry.
The president acknowledged that as several political parties had signed an agreement to form a Government of National Unity, the new cabinet was drawn from different political factions.
“To give effect to this mandate, it was agreed that a government of National Unity, which brings together parties from across the political spectrum, should be formed. This Government of National Unity would be bound by fundamental principles and undertake a basic minimum of programmes of priorities that affect the lives of the people of South Africa.
“Following discussions over the course of the last few weeks, a total of eleven parties have elected to work together in government as well as in parliament. These are the African National Congress, the Democratic Alliance, the Patriotic Alliance, the Inkatha Freedom Party, the Good Party, the Pan-Africanist Congress of Azania, Freedom Front Plus, United Democratic Movement, Al Jama-ah, Rise Mzansi, and the United African Transformation.”. He announced.
Following his pledge to run a leaner government, the Ministries of Electricity and Energy were merged, while the Ministry of Public Enterprises was scrapped.