President Cyril Ramaphosa appointed Paul Mashatile of the ANC as South Africa's deputy president, and a government made up of 32 ministers and 43 deputy ministers.

The new political reality in South Africa has forced Ramaphosa to expand the government by separating some ministries from the previous government. In the current executive, some ministries will have two deputies.

As he explained, this math is designed to accommodate the representatives of the eleven parties that make up the National Unity Government.

In the division of positions, the African National Congress was left with the country's vice-presidency and nineteen ministries, most notably Finance; Foreign Affairs; Mineral Resources; Defense; Energy and Electricity and Health.

The Democratic Alliance has secured six ministries, namely Interior; Basic Education; Communications and Digital Technologies; Forestry, Fisheries and Environment; Public Works and Agriculture, whose Minister is the leader of the Democratic Alliance, John Steenhiusen.

Cyril Ramaphosa also appointed Inkata president Velinkosini Hlabisa as Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs; Gayton Mckenzie as Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture; Patricia de Lille of Good as Minister of Tourism and Blade Nzimande of the Communist Party as Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation.

Representatives of Al Jamah, the United Democratic Movement, were appointed to the posts of deputy ministers.

The ANC has also filled most of the 43 deputy minister posts. Just yesterday, President Cyril Ramaphosa left the first guidelines:

"These men and women we have appointed to the executive come from all corners of our country. They reflect the diversity of our nation.

They have a responsibility to work together to serve the people as a whole. None of the members of government were appointed to serve the interests of a particular constituency, a particular party or a particular sector of society collectively and individually, they are accountable to the people of South Africa," he said.

The swearing-in ceremony of the new South African government is scheduled for tomorrow in Pretoria. (RM)

Image :DR