President Cyril Ramaphosa has removed three Democratic Alliance (DA) deputy ministers from his executive and appointed Dina Pule as the new minister of social development. The executive changes, confirmed by letters dated 30 June, follow a formal request from DA leader Geordin Hill-Lewis to adjust the party’s representation within the Government of National Unity (GNU).
Who has been removed from the executive?
President Ramaphosa has removed Deputy Electricity and Energy Minister Samantha Graham-Mare, Deputy Water and Sanitation Minister Sello Seitlholo, and Deputy Higher Education and Training Minister Mimmy Gondwe. Each official confirmed their removal through social media posts, with Graham-Mare and Seitlholo sharing the official letters of notification from the president. Additionally, Ramaphosa removed John Steenhuisen from the Cabinet and he is set to assume the position of deputy minister of trade, industry, and competition, replacing Alexandra Abrahams.
What are the new Cabinet appointments?
Dina Pule has been appointed as the minister of social development, replacing Sisisi Tolashe. Tolashe was recently fired from the Cabinet after she failed to disclose a gift of two luxury cars to the women’s league, which she took for the use of her children. Pule, a senior official within the ANC Women’s League, previously served as the minister of communications from 2011 to 2013. She was removed from that position after Parliament’s Ethics Committee found she failed to disclose a relationship with a businessman who received a department contract and accompanied her on government-funded overseas trips.
Did You Know?
The removal of the three DA deputy ministers stems from a 17 June announcement by DA leader Geordin Hill-Lewis, who stated he requested the changes following a “careful assessment” of his party’s team currently serving in the Government of National Unity.
What happens next for the executive?
The removal of the three deputy ministers signals a Cabinet reshuffle in Ramaphosa’s executive, and it is imminent. As part of the transition, the DA has named replacements for the outgoing deputies: Yusuf Cassim is set to replace Mimmy Gondwe, Jack Bloom will replace Sello Seitlholo, and Alexandra Abrahams is expected to move into the role vacated by Samantha Graham-Mare. While these changes adjust the DA’s footprint in the executive, the full scope of the pending reshuffle remains to be seen.
Expert Insight:
The current reshuffle highlights the delicate power-sharing dynamics within the Government of National Unity. By acting on the specific requests of DA leadership to cycle out deputies and reassign John Steenhuisen, the administration is navigating internal party accountability alongside broader executive stability. The appointment of Dina Pule to a ministerial post, despite her previous removal for ethical lapses, underscores the influence of the ANC Women’s League in securing top-tier positions within the social development portfolio.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Dina Pule appointed as minister of social development?
Pule is a senior official in the ANC Women’s League, and the post of social development has by recent tradition been awarded to a senior women’s league official, if not the president. She replaces Sisisi Tolashe.
Who will replace the removed DA deputy ministers?
The DA has proposed Yusuf Cassim to replace Mimmy Gondwe, Jack Bloom to replace Sello Seitlholo, and Alexandra Abrahams to replace Samantha Graham-Mare.
What was the stated reason for the DA’s request for executive changes?
DA leader Geordin Hill-Lewis stated the changes were requested “following a careful assessment of the DA’s team” in the Government of National Unity.
How do you think these shifts in personnel will impact the stability of the current coalition government?
