Cabinet of Kgalema Motlanthe

Status in legislatureMajorityOpposition partyDemocratic AllianceOpposition leaderSandra BothaHistoryElection2004 electionLegislature termThird ParliamentPredecessorMbeki IISuccessorZuma I

The cabinet of Kgalema Motlanthe was the cabinet of the government of South Africa between 25 September 2008 and 9 May 2009. It was constituted by Motlanthe after his election on 24 September and served until after the April 2009 general election. It replaced the cabinet of former President Thabo Mbeki, who had resigned from office at the instruction of his political party.

History

On 25 September 2008, the day after Thabo Mbeki's resignation, Kgalema Motlanthe was indirectly elected as the third President of South Africa.[1] He was inaugurated as president later the same day, and he announced his new cabinet during his inauguration speech.[2][3] Because he was expected to serve only until the 2009 general election, Motlanthe's cabinet was widely referred to as a caretaker government.[4]

Motlanthe retained many of the ministers who had served in Mbeki's cabinet, but Mbeki's departure had precipitated a wave of ministerial resignations that necessitated new appointments.[5] Baleka Mbete was newly appointed as Deputy President of South Africa, replacing Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, and seven new ministers joined the cabinet.[6] Four replaced ministers who had resigned: Richard Baloyi replaced Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi, Siyabonga Cwele replaced Ronnie Kasrils, Sicelo Shiceka replaced Sydney Mufamadi, and Geoff Doidge replaced Thoko Didiza. Three other new ministers – Barbara Hogan, Nathi Mthethwa, and Enver Surty – replaced ministers who were reassigned to new portfolios in order to compensate for additional resignations. The reassigned ministers were Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, Charles Nqakula, and Brigitte Mabandla, who replaced, respectively, Essop Pahad, Mosiuoa Lekota, and Alec Erwin.[6] Tshabalala-Msimang's departure from the Ministry of Health received international attention because of her notorious mishandling of the HIV/AIDS epidemic.[7]

During his seven-month presidency, Motlanthe did not effect any cabinet reshuffles. Minister Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri died on 6 April 2009, a fortnight before the general election, and Minister Tshabalala-Msimang took over her Communications portfolio in an acting capacity.[8]

List of ministers

Portfolio Minister Took office Left office Party
President of South Africa25 September 20089 May 2009 ANC
Deputy President of South Africa25 September 20089 May 2009 ANC
Minister in the Presidency25 September 20089 May 2009 ANC
Minister of Agriculture and Land Affairs25 September 20089 May 2009 ANC
Minister of Arts and Culture25 September 20089 May 2009 ANC
Minister of Communications25 September 20086 April 2009 ANC
Minister of Correctional Services25 September 20089 May 2009 ANC
Minister of Defence25 September 20089 May 2009 ANC
Minister of Education25 September 20089 May 2009 ANC
Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism25 September 20089 May 2009 ANC
Minister of Finance25 September 20089 May 2009 ANC
Minister of Foreign Affairs25 September 20089 May 2009 ANC
Minister of Health25 September 20089 May 2009 ANC
Minister of Home Affairs25 September 20089 May 2009 ANC
Minister of Housing25 September 20089 May 2009 ANC
Minister of Intelligence25 September 20089 May 2009 ANC
Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development25 September 20089 May 2009 ANC
Minister of Labour25 September 20089 May 2009 ANC
Minister of Minerals and Energy25 September 20089 May 2009 ANC
Minister of Provincial and Local Government25 September 20089 May 2009 ANC
Minister of Public Enterprises25 September 20089 May 2009 ANC
Minister of Public Service and Administration25 September 20089 May 2009 ANC
Minister of Public Works25 September 20089 May 2009 ANC
Minister of Safety and Security25 September 20089 May 2009 ANC
Minister of Science and Technology25 September 20089 May 2009 AZAPO
Minister of Social Development25 September 20089 May 2009 ANC
Minister of Sport and Recreation25 September 20089 May 2009 ANC
Minister of Trade and Industry25 September 20089 May 2009 ANC
Minister of Transport25 September 20089 May 2009 ANC
Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry25 September 20089 May 2009 ANC

List of deputy ministers

Although deputy ministers are not members of the South African Cabinet, they are appointed by the president and assist cabinet ministers in the execution of their duties. Motlanthe's deputy ministers were, like his ministers, appointed on 25 September 2008.[2] Motlanthe appointed only two new deputy ministers on 25 September: Molefi Sefularo, to fill a longstanding vacancy in the office of the Deputy Minister of Health, and Fezile Bhengu, to replace Mluleki George as Deputy Minister of Defence.[6]

After a short delay, on 5 November he appointed Nhlanhla Nene to the position of Deputy Minister of Finance, which had been vacated by Jabu Moleketi's resignation in September.[9] On the same day, he appointed André Gaum to the vacant position of Deputy Minister of Education (held by Minister Surty until September) and created a new position of third Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for Fatima Hajaig.[10] Motlanthe did not appoint deputy ministers in the Ministries of Housing, Intelligence, Labour, Minerals and Energy, Public Enterprises, Public Service and Administration, Transport, or Water Affairs, nor did he appoint a deputy minister in the Presidency.[11]

Portfolio Minister Took office Left office Party
Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Land Affairs25 September 20089 May 2009 ANC
Deputy Minister of Arts and Culture25 September 20089 May 2009 ANC
Deputy Minister of Communications25 September 20089 May 2009 ANC
Deputy Minister of Correctional Services25 September 20089 May 2009 ANC
Deputy Minister of Defence25 September 20089 May 2009 ANC
Deputy Minister of Education5 November 20089 May 2009 ANC
Deputy Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism25 September 20089 May 2009 ANC
Deputy Minister of Finance5 November 20089 May 2009 ANC
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs25 September 20089 May 2009 ANC
25 September 20089 May 2009 ANC
5 November 20089 May 2009 ANC
Deputy Minister of Health25 September 20089 May 2009 ANC
Deputy Minister of Home Affairs25 September 20089 May 2009 ANC
Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development25 September 20089 May 2009 ANC
Deputy Minister of Provincial and Local Government25 September 20089 May 2009 ANC
Deputy Minister of Public Works25 September 20089 May 2009 UDM
Deputy Minister of Safety and Security25 September 20089 May 2009 ANC
Deputy Minister of Science and Technology25 September 20089 May 2009 ANC
Deputy Minister of Social Development25 September 20089 May 2009 ANC
Deputy Minister of Sport and Recreation25 September 20089 May 2009 ANC
Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry
Rob Davies
25 September 20089 May 2009 ANC
25 September 20089 May 2009 ANC

References

  1. ^ Sebastien Berger (25 September 2008). "Thabo Mbeki's successor Kgalema Motlanthe sworn in as South Africa president". The Telegraph. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
  2. ^ a b "Motlanthe's inauguration address inc. names of new cabinet". PoliticsWeb. 25 September 2008. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
  3. ^ Burgis, Tom (25 September 2008). "Stability is priority, Motlanthe tells ANC". Financial Times. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  4. ^ "South Africa's caretaker president sworn in". France 24. 25 September 2008. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
  5. ^ Sebastien Berger (27 September 2008). "Who's who in South Africa's new government, and how they stand between Jacob Zuma and Thabo Mbeki". The Telegraph. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
  6. ^ a b c Majavu, Anna (26 September 2008). "Winners, losers in cabinet shuffle". The Sowetan. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
  7. ^ Kapp, Clare (October 2008). "New hope for health in South Africa". The Lancet. 372 (9645): 1207–1208. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(08)61501-9.
  8. ^ Muller, Rudolph (28 April 2009). "The next Communications Minister". MyBroadband. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
  9. ^ "Nene to be appointed finance deputy". IOL. 5 November 2008. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
  10. ^ "Nene to become deputy minister of finance". The Mail & Guardian. 5 November 2008. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
  11. ^ Burger, Delien (ed.). Pocket Guide to South Africa 2008/2009 (6th ed.). Government Communication and Information System. pp. 36–37. ISBN 978-0-621-38413-0.