Following weeks of anticipation, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa was unveiled as the Minister of Electricity during Monday’s Cabinet reshuffle announcement.
Ramaphosa shakes up Cabinet with new faces
President Cyril Ramaphosa sent shockwaves reverberating across the political sphere when, on Monday evening, he finally announced his Cabinet reshuffle, which saw troubled ministers like Lindiwe Sisulu and Nathi Mthethwa exit their respective portfolios.
“The changes that I am announcing now are intended to fill vacancies that have occurred in the Executive and to direct government more effectively towards the areas that require urgent and decisive action,” Ramaphosa explained.
Moreover, two new ministries were added to Ramaphosa’s Cabinet.
The country had already been teased about a minister of electricity, but the president pulled another trump card during Monday’s Cabinet reshuffle announcement when he unveiled the ministry of planning, monitoring and evaluation, which, he explained, will “focus greater attention on the performance of government.”
Here is a complete look at Ramaphosa’s latest Cabinet reshuffle:
- Minister of Agriculture: Angela Thokozile Didiza (unchanged)
- Minister of Basic Education: Angie Motshekga (unchanged)
- Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies: Mondli Gungubele (replaced Khumbudzo Ntshavheni)
- Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs: Thembi Nkadimeng (replaced Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma)
- Minister of Defence: Thandi Modise (unchanged)
- Minister of Employment and Labour: Thembelani Thulas Nxesi (unchanged)
- Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment: Barbara Creecy (unchanged)
- Minister of Finance: Enoch Godongwana (unchanged)
- Minister of Health: Dr Mathume Phaahla (unchanged)
- Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation: Dr Bonginkosi Nzimande (unchanged)
- Minister of Home Affairs: Dr Aaron Motsoaledi (unchanged)
- Minister of Human Settlements: Mmamoloko Kubayi (unchanged)
- Minister of International Relations and Cooperation: Dr Naledi Pandor (unchanged)
- Minister of Justice and Correctional Services: Ronald Lamola (unchanged)
- Minister of Resources and Energy: Gwede Mantashe (unchanged)
- Minister of Police: Bheki Cele (unchanged)
- Minister in the Presidency: Khumbudzo Ntshavheni (replaced Mondli Gungubele)
- Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities: Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma (replaced Maite Nkoana-Mashabane)
- Minister of Public Enterprises: Pravin Gordhan (unchanged)
- Minister in the Presidency for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation: Maropene Ramokgopa (new ministry)
- Minister in the Presidency for Electricity: Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa (new ministry)
- Minister of Public Service and Administration: Noxolo Kiviet (new vacancy)
- Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure: Sihle Zikalala (replaced Patricia de Lille)
- Minister of Small Business Development: Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams (unchanged)
- Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture: Zizi Kodwa (replaced Nathi Mthethwa)
- Minister of Tourism: Patricia de Lille (replaced Lindiwe Sisulu)
- Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition: Ebrahim Patel (unchanged)
- Minister of Transport: Fikile Mbalula (unchanged)
- Minister of Water and Sanitation: Senzo Mchunu (unchanged)
Who is Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa? – Here are five things to know
The biggest talking point from Monday’s Cabinet reshuffle was, without a doubt, the unveiling of Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa as the new Minister of Electricity.
During his address, Ramaphosa explained that part of Dr Ramokgopa’s job will be to:
- significantly reduce the severity and frequency of loadshedding as a matter of urgency;
- assume political responsibility, authority and control over all critical aspects of the Energy Action Plan;
- facilitate the coordination of the numerous departments and entities involved in the crisis response;
- work with the Eskom leadership to turn around the performance of existing power stations;
- accelerate the procurement of new generation capacity;
- issue directions to, among others, exclude critical facilities from load shedding where technically feasible;
- expedite various regulatory processes for energy projects; and
- enable Eskom to undertake critical maintenance more quickly and efficiently.
“The Minister in the Presidency for Electricity will remain in office only for as long as it is necessary to resolve the electricity crisis,” Ramaphosa confirmed.
We did a bit of research on the man tasked with halting loadshedding, which, based on this week’s schedule, was rotating between Stages 4 and 5.
Here are five things to know about Dr Kgosientso Ramokgopa:
- He holds a PhD in Public Affairs, obtained from the University of Pretoria in 2019; a BSc in Civil Engineering; and a Master’s degree in Public Administration.
- Before this new position, Dr Ramokgopa served as Head of Investment and Infrastructure in the Presidency.
- He once served as Gauteng MEC for Economic Development, Agriculture and Environment.
- He was the mayor of Tshwane between 2010 and 2016.
- Before delving into high-level politics, he served as a CEO for Metropolitan and the Johannesburg Market.