The south african new ministers

Beeld, 26 September 2008

President Kgalema Montlanthe has made nine new appointments in his Cabinet. Here's who they are:

Minister of Health: Barbara Hogan

Hogan is a somewhat surprising but popular choice. She is known primarily as chairperson of the influential portfolio committee on finances (from 1999 to 2004.) She was moved to the background after sharp disagreement with Finance Minister Trevor Manuel about Parliament's role in budget matters and the amendment of the so-called finance laws.Hogan joined the ANC in 1976 after the Soweto uprising and in 1982 was the first woman in South Africa to be found guilty of treason. She was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment and was released in 1990 after which she played a big role in the creation of the ANC structures in Gauteng.As member of Parliament, she played a leading role in many ad hoc committees and investigations. Her most recent role was as chairperson of the committee into the Auditor General.

Minister of Public Works: Geoff Doidge

One of the most popular parliamentarians, Doidge is deeply respected for his impartial stance in the often-hot seat of the National Assembly.

Throughout his parliamentary career, he featured more in chairperson positions than portfolio ones, but his appointment will be popular in political circles.

Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development: Enver Surty

Surty's competent job as deputy minister of education will be disputed by few. He was a legal representative in anti-apartheid cases and has a masters degree in law. He is from the North West. As a politician, he has represented the ANC in constitutional negotiations, specifically on a charter for human rights. Surty was chief whip of the ANC in the National Council of Provinces until his appointment as deputy minister in 2004.

Minister of Intelligence: Dr Siyabonga Cwele

This passionate Zuma supporter takes over the highly sensitive portfolio overseeing espionage in the country. He is a medical doctor from Port Shepstone on the KZN south coast and was chairperson of the parliamentary portfolio committee on intelligence. It is a committee which usually meets behind closed doors and it is therefore difficult to determine its efficacy, but during the yearly budget debates, opposition members were very complimentary about him.Cwele was prominent in the creation of the parliamentary report about the controversial Browse Mole report, which chastised the Scorpions for the campaign against ANC leader Jacob Zuma and which preceded the resignation of former Scorpions chief, Advocate Leonard McCarthy.

Minister of Public Service and Administration: Richard Baloyi

He replaces Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi who stepped down as MP. Baloyi has been an MP since 1999 and was serving in the portfolio committee for the public service and administration. Before 1994, he was involved in the far Northern Transvaal in the UDF and after the first democratic election, was elected to the provincial leadership of the ANC. He has a BA degree. His branch office was in Phalaborwa in Limpopo.

Deputy Minister of Health: Dr Molefi Sefularo

This medical doctor from North West replaces axed deputy Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge and has degrees from Medunsa, Wits and the University of Cape Town (MBA). He is currently on the portfolio committee of trade and industry.

Minister of Safety and Security: Nathi Mthethwa

He was the ANC chief whip in the National Assembly and replaces Charles Nqakula, who moves to another portfolio. Mthethwa quickly rose in the ANC and is regarded as an efficient worker. He had several leadership positions in the ANC parliamentary caucus and has been involved with the then-illegal ANC in KZN since the age of 15. He became an MP in 2002 and before his appointment as chief whip, was the chairperson of the portfolio committee of minerals and energy.

Minister of Provincial and Local Government: Sicelo Shiceka

This jovial Gautenger replaces Sydney Mufamadi, who stepped down. He was an MEC for local government in the provincial government after 1994. In 2004 he was appointed as the permanent Gauteng representative to the National Council of Provinces and serves as the chairperson of Parliament's collective committee on local government and administration. In December he was elected to the ANC's National Executive Council. He also serves on the collective ethics committee.

Deputy Minister of Defence: Fezile Bhengu

He is an MP for Port St Johns in the Eastern Cape and serves as chairperson of the portfolio committee of defence. He replaces Mluleki George, who stepped down. He has been an MP since 1994 and was known to regular criticise then minister of public works Stella Sigcau on her department's poor record. He was active on branch level in the former Transkei and has a B. Juris degree.