Elections - South Africa's president announces new government cabinet
Pretoria (dpa) – South African President Cyril Ramaphosa announced his new cabinet. In a TV address, the head of state confirmed the allocation of 12 ministerial posts to opposition parties.
The largest opposition party, the Democratic Alliance (DA), takes over six positions. DA party leader John Steenhuisen will head the Agriculture ministry. With 20 ministries, including key ministries such as Foreign, Defense, Energy, and Finance, the African National Congress (ANC) retains the lion's share of cabinet posts.
Larger cabinet than before
With a total of 32 ministerial posts, the cabinet is two seats larger than in previous years. The background is the composition of the new government. This government consists of eleven parties that are supposed to lead the affairs of Africa's strongest economy in a Government of National Unity (GNU). Ramaphosa's party, the ANC, lost its absolute majority in the parliamentary elections on May 29 for the first time in 30 years and can no longer govern alone.
Economic growth, social justice, and democratic renewal of the country are priorities for the new government. So is the fight against poverty, unemployment, and crime. Corruption and the exploitation of the state will also be tackled.
Unstable coalition alliance
The coalition government is a kind of grand coalition, but without fixed coalition agreements. According to political analysts, the stability and effectiveness of such a governmental form is questionable. As an access country to a continent that is increasingly important internationally due to its resources needed for the energy transition, the political events in South Africa are also relevant for Germany and Europe. South Africa is also the only African member of the G20 group of major economic powers.
- The Democratic Alliance, gaining six ministerial posts in the newly announced South African cabinet led by President Cyril Ramaphosa, will have John Steenhuisen overseeing the Agriculture ministry.
- Despite losing its absolute majority in the parliamentary elections on May 29, the African National Congress (ANC) still retains a significant "lion's share" of the 32 cabinet posts, with 20 ministries, including critical ones like Foreign, Defense, Energy, and Finance.
- In a remarkable shift, the new South African government, which consists of eleven parties forming a Government of National Unity (GNU), features a larger cabinet of 32 ministerial positions, two more seats compared to the previous years.
- In Pretoria, President Ramaphosa announced his cabinet, allocating 12 ministerial posts to opposition parties during his televised address, a move signifying a more inclusive political landscape in South Africa.
- As part of the coalition government, which analysts describe as an uncertain and questionable form of governance without fixed agreements, the new South African cabinet, including the Democratic Alliance and the ANC, aims to prioritize economic growth, social justice, and democratic renewal of the country, alongside combating poverty, unemployment, crime, corruption, and state exploitation.
