President Cyril Ramaphosa has removed three deputy ministers from the executive and reassigned John Steenhuisen from Agriculture to Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry.
The changes, confirmed in official letters dated June 30, come after DA leader Geordin Hill-Lewis submitted a proposal calling for a complete restructuring of the party’s Cabinet deployment.
Ramaphosa has approved every requested change.
Steenhuisen, who has served as Minister of Agriculture, will be succeeded by Willie Aucamp, who leaves his post as Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment to take charge of the agriculture portfolio.
Three DA deputy ministers have been removed from the executive: Samantha Graham-Mare from Electricity and Energy, Sello Seitlholo from Water and Sanitation, and Mimmy Gondwe from Higher Education.
Graham-Mare and Seitlholo publicly shared Ramaphosa’s letters thanking them for their service after notifying them of their removal.
The reshuffle also ushers in a new group of DA leaders.
Sources close to the changes told IOL that David Maynier will leave his position as Western Cape Education MEC to become Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment.
Alexandra Abrahams has been appointed Deputy Minister of Electricity and Energy, replacing Graham-Mare, while Gauteng DA health spokesperson Jack Bloom will take over as deputy from Seitlholo.
Yusuf Cassim, the DA’s Eastern Cape provincial chairperson, has been appointed Deputy Minister of Higher Education, replacing Gondwe.
The overhaul underscored the party’s decision to refresh its leadership team in the national executive.
This is a developing story.
kamogelo.moichela@iol.co.za
IOL Politics
