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South African President Cyril Ramaphosa Monday appointed former opposition leader John Steenhuisen as the new Minister of Agriculture, integrating the Democratic Alliance (DA) and other parties into his coalition cabinet. This move comes after the African National Congress (ANC) lost its majority for the first time in three decades in the May 29 election.
The formation of the new government followed weeks of intense and sometimes contentious negotiations. Ramaphosa retained key ANC figures, including Enoch Godongwana as Finance Minister and Ronald Lamola as Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, replacing Naledi Pandor. Gwede Mantashe will continue as Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, though the energy portfolio has been reassigned to Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa.
“These men and women we have appointed to the executive reflect the diversity of our nation,” Ramaphosa stated. “In the spirit of partnership and collaboration, the incoming government will work together.”
The appointment of the new cabinet marks the final step in establishing a government tasked with reviving the economy, repairing infrastructure, and creating jobs for the unemployed third of the population.
“We look forward to being part of a new era in South Africa’s democratic journey, and to bringing real and tangible change to the millions of citizens who voted for it,” Steenhuisen said following the announcement.
Several minor parties also saw their leaders receive cabinet posts as part of the coalition agreement.
For decades, the ANC has relied on its legacy of ending apartheid and uniting a racially and ethnically divided nation under Nelson Mandela’s leadership. However, voter frustration has grown due to the ANC’s failure to deliver essential services such as water, education, and electricity.
Analysts suggest that the success of this coalition government will depend on its ability to overcome ideological differences. The DA opposes some of the ANC’s key policies, such as Black empowerment programs, which it claims have only enriched a politically connected elite while leaving much of the Black population in poverty. The DA also rejects the ANC’s plans to expropriate land without compensation and aims to phase out the minimum wage, arguing that it hinders competitiveness.
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