The Cabinet of South Africa is the most senior level of the executive branch of the Government of South Africa. It is made up of the president, the deputy president, and the ministers.
Overview The cabinet of South Africa consists of the president, deputy president, and ministers.Section 91(1) of the Constitution. The president appoints the deputy president and ministers, assigns the ministers’ powers and functions, and may dismiss them.Section 91(2) of the Constitution. The deputy president must be a member of the National Assembly.Section 91(3)(a) of the Constitution.
The president may select any number of ministers. The ministers must be selected from the members of the National Assembly, with the exception that up to two ministers may be selected from outside the assembly.Section 91(3)(b) and (c) of the Constitution. The deputy president and ministers may be from various political parties, reflecting the outcomes of the general election or coalition agreements. Members of the cabinet are accountable collectively and individually to Parliament for the exercise of their powers and the performance of their functions.Section 92(3)(b) of the Constitution provides that members of the cabinet must "provide Parliament with full and regular reports concerning matters under their control".
The president must appoint a member of the cabinet to be the leader of government business in the National Assembly.Section 91(4) of the Constitution.
The president appoints deputy ministers to assist the relevant ministers in the execution of their dutiesSection 93(1) of the Constitution. but they are not members of the cabinet.They are omitted from Section 91(1), which defines the cabinet. Deputy ministers must be selected from the members of the National Assembly. The exception is that up to two ministers may be selected from outside the assembly, but they are accountable to Parliament for the exercise of their powers and the performance of their function.Section 93(1) and (2) of the Constitution. While there is no explicit provision that deputy ministers from the assembly are individually accountable to Parliament in the same manner as ministers, they are accountable through the ministers they assist.
The cabinet is responsible for the general direction and administration of the government of South Africa.
The composition and responsibilities of cabinet members and deputy ministers may be reconfigured by the president as required to enhance efficiency and address the nation's priorities. This reconfiguration is part of the president's executive powers to organize the government in a way that they believe will best serve national interests.Since the president assigns the ministers' powers and functions in terms of Section 91(2), and by implication also those of deputy ministers.
The term of a previous president ends when the new president is sworn into office by the Chief Justice of the Republic.Section 88 provides that the president’s term of office begins on assuming office and ends upon a vacancy occurring or when the person next elected president assumes office.
A cabinet member or deputy minister's term of office begins upon their swearing-in, not upon the announcement of their appointment by the president.Section 95 of the Constitution requires that ministers swear or affirm faithfulness to the Republic and obedience to the Constitution ‘’before they commence their duties’’. Their term of office ends when the new president is sworn in, including when a current president is re-inaugurated following an election.This is derived from section 88 of the Constitution, read with section 91. Section 91(2) states that the president appoints the deputy president and ministers, chooses their responsibilities, and may dismiss them. Thus, when the term of office of a president ends on the inauguration of the next president, so do the terms of their deputy president, ministers and deputy ministers.
Current cabinet
President Cyril Ramaphosa announced his cabinet on 30 June 2024, sixteen days after being elected president of the 7th administration on 14 June 2024. The delay in settling the cabinet followed the ANC securing only about 40% of the vote in the May national election. When announcing the cabinet president Ramaphosa stated, "In casting their votes, the people [of South Africa] made it clear that they expect political parties to work together to deliver on a mandate of transformation, growth, and renewal. To give effect to this mandate, it was agreed that a Government of National Unity, which brings together parties from across the political spectrum, should be formed."
This Government of National Unity (GNU) was formed by the African National Congress (ANC), Democratic Alliance (DA), Patriotic Alliance (PA), Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), Good Party (Good), Pan Africanist Congress of Azania (PAC), Freedom Front Plus (FF+), United Democratic Movement (UDM), Al Jama-ah, Rise Mzansi (Rise) and UAT, although the UAT withdrew on 12 July 2024 after it did not receive any positions in the Cabinet. The partnership between the GNU parties is guided by a Statement of Intent, which outlines fundamental principles and a minimum programme of priorities.
The following table details the distribution of Parliamentary seats, cabinet members (which include the president and deputy president), and deputy ministers among the parties currently in the GNU. The background colours in the table highlight the relative value of the numbers, with darker shades representing higher values. See below for proportions and ratios regarding these executive positions.
Distribution of Seats and Executive Positions Among GNU Parties Party Seats Cabinet members Deputy Ministers Total ANC 159 22 31 53 DA 87 6 5 11 IFP 17 2 2 4 PA 9 1 - 1 FF+ 6 1 - 1 UDM 3 - 1 1 Rise 2 - - 0 Aljama 2 - 1 1 PAC 1 1 - 1 Good 1 1 - 1 Total 287 34 40 74
The Cabinet
After the 2024 national and provincial election, president Cyril Ramaphosa announced the GNU cabinet and deputy ministers on 30 June 2024. The current members of the cabinet of the GNU are listed in the table below.Where incumbents first took office in the same portfolio before the swearing-in of the current cabinet, the earliest date of taking office is used, reflecting practical continuity. However, these terms are not legally continuous. The table considers a previous term only if the portfolio name matches exactly with that in the immediately preceding period. The deputy president and initial set of ministers officially took office upon their swearing-in on 3 July 2024.
Office PortraitHolder and party of origin Term started anddays in officePresidentCyril Ramaphosa: Deputy President Paul Mashatile: Minister of AgricultureWillie Aucamp: Minister of Basic EducationSiviwe Gwarube: Minister of Communications and Digital TechnologiesSolly Malatsi: Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional AffairsVelenkosini Hlabisa: Minister of Correctional ServicesPieter Groenewald: Minister of Defence and Military VeteransAngie Motshekga: Minister of Electricity and EnergyKgosientsho Ramokgopa: Minister of Employment and LabourNomakhosazana Meth: Minister of FinanceEnoch Godongwana: Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment David Maynier: Minister of HealthAaron Motsoaledi: Minister of Higher EducationButi Manamela: Minister of Home AffairsLeon Schreiber: Minister of Human SettlementsThembi Simelane: Minister of International Relations and CooperationRonald Lamola: Minister of Justice and Constitutional DevelopmentMmamoloko Kubayi: Minister of Land Reform and Rural DevelopmentMzwanele Nyhontso: Minister of Mineral and Petroleum ResourcesGwede Mantashe: Minister of Planning, Monitoring and EvaluationMaropene Ramokgopa: Minister of PoliceSenzo Mchunu: Minister in the PresidencyKhumbudzo Ntshavheni: Minister of Public Service and AdministrationMzamo Buthelezi: Minister of Public Works and InfrastructureDean Macpherson: Minister of Science, Technology and InnovationBlade Nzimande: Minister of Small Business DevelopmentStella Ndabeni-Abrahams: Minister of Social DevelopmentDina Pule: Minister of Sport, Arts and CultureGayton McKenzie: Minister of TourismPatricia de Lille: Minister of Trade, Industry and CompetitionParks Tau: Minister of TransportBarbara Creecy: Minister of Water and SanitationPemmy Majodina: Minister of Women, Youth and Persons with DisabilitiesSindisiwe Chikunga:
Deputy Ministers Deputy ministers are appointed by the president of South Africa. They are not members of the cabinet. They assist cabinet ministers in the execution of their duties. The current deputy ministers are listed in the table below. The original group of deputy ministers officially took office upon their swearing-in on 3 July 2024.
Department Deputy Minister Party Term started &days in office Agriculture Rosemary Capa : Basic Education Reginah Mhaule : Communications and Digital Technologies Mondli Gungubele : Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Dickson Masemola : Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (2nd Deputy) Zolile Burns-Ncamashe : Defence and Military Veterans Bantu Holomisa : Defence and Military Veterans (2nd Deputy) Richard Mkhungo : Electricity and Energy Alexandra Abrahams : Employment and Labour Jomo Sibiya : Employment and Labour (2nd Deputy) Phumzile Mgcina : Finance David Masondo : Finance (2nd Deputy) Ashor Sarupen : Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Narend Singh : Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (2nd Deputy) Bernice Swarts : Health Joe Phaahla : Higher Education Buti Manamela : Higher Education (2nd Deputy) Yusuf Cassim : Home Affairs Njabulo Nzuza : Human Settlements Tandi Mahambehlala : International Relations and Cooperation Alvin Botes : International Relations and Cooperation (2nd Deputy) Thandi Moraka : Justice and Constitutional Development Andries Nel : Land Reform and Rural Development Chupu Stanley Mathabatha : Mineral and Petroleum Resources Judith Nemadzinga-Tshabalala : Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Seiso Mohai : Police Polly Boshielo : Police (2nd Deputy) Cassel Mathale : Public Service and Administration Pinky Kekana : Public Works and Infrastructure Sihle Zikalala : Science, Technology and Innovation Nomalungelo Gina : Small Business Development Jane Sithole : Social Development Ganief Hendricks : Sport, Arts and Culture Peace Mabe : Tourism Maggie Sotyu : Trade, Industry and Competition Zuko Godlimpi : Trade, Industry and Competition (2nd Deputy) John Steenhuisen : Transport Mkhuleko Hlengwa : Water and Sanitation David Mahlobo : Water and Sanitation (2nd Deputy) Jack Bloom : Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities Mmapaseka Steve Letsike :
Proportions and ratios of positions as between GNU parties
The table below details the distribution of parliamentary seats, cabinet members, and deputy ministers among the parties of the GNU. The percentages represent the proportion of each category held by GNU parties only, excluding other parties in Parliament. The background colours in the table highlight the relative value of the numbers, with darker shades representing higher values.
Proportions of parliamentary seats and executive position between GNU parties Party % of Seats % Cabinet Members % Deputy Ministers % Total ANC 55.2% 64.7% 77.5% 71.6% DA 30.2% 17.6% 12.5% 14.9% IFP 5.9% 5.9% 5.0% 5.4% PA 3.1% 2.9% 1.4% FF+ 2.1% 2.9% 1.4% UDM 1.0% 2.5% 1.4% Rise 0.7% 0.0% Aljama 0.7% 2.5% 1.4% PAC 0.3% 2.9% 1.4% Good 0.3% 2.9% 1.4%
The table below illustrates the ratios of executive positions to Parliamentary seats among the parties of the GNU. The background colours in the table highlight the relative value of the numbers, with darker shades representing higher values.