Ramaphosa announces cabinet reshuffle

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced a cabinet reshuffle that significantly alters the composition of the executive, with several of the changes reportedly made in consultation with the Democratic Alliance as part of the Government of National Unity. The reshuffle affects a number of important portfolios, including Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Trade, Industry and Competition, Electricity and Energy, Higher Education, and Water and Sanitation.

The following changes have been made to ministerial portfolios:

• Willem Aucamp as the Minister of Agriculture,
• David Maynier as Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment.

The following changes have been made to deputy minister posts:

• John Steenhuisen as Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition,
• Alexandra Abrahams as Deputy Minister of Electricity and Energy,
• Jack Bloom as Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation,
• Yusuf Cassim as Deputy Minister of Higher Education.

In addition to reconfiguring DA representation in the executive, Ramaphosa has also appointed Dina Pule as Minister of Social Development. The post had remained vacant since the dismissal of former minister Sisisi Tolashe in May, following a series of scandals and serious allegations against her. Pule’s appointment has drawn attention because of her own controversial political history and return to frontline government after more than a decade away from national executive office.

Pule previously served in cabinet under former president Jacob Zuma, including as Minister of Communications from 2011 to 2013. Before that, she held deputy ministerial positions in the Presidency and in Communications. Her tenure as communications minister ended amid scandal after a Public Protector investigation found her guilty of unethical conduct and dishonesty. The case centred on her relationship with a businessman who allegedly benefited from his proximity to her. She denied the relationship at first, but later admitted it under scrutiny.

In 2013, then–Public Protector Thuli Madonsela ordered Pule to apologise to Parliament for persistent lying and unethical conduct. She was also found guilty by the Parliamentary Ethics and Members’ Interests Committee of violating the Executive Members’ Ethics Code. Parliament reprimanded and suspended her, and she was eventually removed during a cabinet reshuffle.

After spending years out of the national spotlight, Pule returned to Parliament as an ANC MP following the 2024 elections. Her appointment now marks a striking return to cabinet, reopening debate about political accountability, renewal and the standards applied to senior public office. Ramaphosa concluded by wishing all incoming ministers and deputy ministers success in their new roles.