President Jacob Zuma has made changes to his cabinet again.
In a statement on Tuesday, the presidency announced that big changes would be made in the higher education and training, energy and home affairs departments.
This is the second cabinet reshuffle this year, after Zuma’s wide changes to the national executive in March that saw the axing of former Minster of Finance Pravin Gordhan and his deputy Mcebisi Jonas.
The presidency said the following changes would be made to the national executive:
- Hlengiwe Mkhize is the new Minister of Higher Education and Training, replacing Blade Nzimande.
- Ayanda Dlodlo is the new Minister of Home Affairs, replacing Hlengiwe Buhle Mkhize.
- Mmamaloko Kubayi is the new Minister of Communications, replacing Ayanda Dlodlo.
- David Mahlobo is the new Minister of Energy, replacing Mmamoloko Kubayi.
- Bongani Thomas Bongo is the Minister of State Security, replacing David Mahlobo.
- Buti Manamela is the Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training, replacing Mduduzi Manana, who resigned after assaulting a woman in a night club.
Ministers appointed in their new portfolios after Zuma’s cabinet in March included Dlodlo (appointed as Minister of Communications replacing Faith Muthambi) and Kubayi (appointed as Minister of Energy replacing Tina Joemat-Pettersson). They were appointed in their respective cabinet portfolios for seven months.
Despite mounting speculation, presidential hopeful Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma was not included to the national executive. In September, Dlamini-Zuma was sworn in as an MP.
The rand remained relatively strong during intra-day trade touching R13.37 against the dollar at the time of writing
