Zuma’s cabinet reshuffle

By The Newsteam
24 October 2011

President Jacob Zuma has suspended Police Commissioner General Bheki Cele with immediate effect.

He has appointed a commission of enquiry into the Police Headquarters deal saga.

Zuma appointed Nhlanhla Mkwanazi as the acting police commissioner.

Zuma made the announcement while making a cabinet reshuffle which saw the dismissal of Public Works Minister Gwen Mahlangu Nkabinde and Cooperative Governance Minister Sicelo Shiceka.

Mahlangu-Nkabinde is replaced by deputy minister of Rural Development and Land Reform Thulas Nxesi.

The Public works department will no longer have a deputy minister.

Minister Richard Baloyi, the Minister of Public Service and Administration, replaces Shiceka as the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs.

Communications minister Roy Padayachee was appointed minister of public service and administration.

The president also announced a commission of inquiry to investigate allegations of wrongdoing in the “arms deal”.

Honourable Mr Justice Willie Seriti, Judge of the Supreme Court of
Appeal, Honourable Mr Justice Willem van der Merwe, Deputy Judge President of the North Gauteng High Court and Honourable Mr Justice Francis Legodi, Judge of the North Gauteng High Court were appointed.

Mr Justice Seriti will chair the Commission, which is expected to complete its work within two years.

Other changes in the cabinet are as follows:

1. Ms Dina Pule, currently the Deputy Minister for Performance Monitoring and Evaluation, has been appointed Minister of Communications.

2. Mr Obed Bapela, the Deputy Minister of Communications, has been appointed Deputy Minister in the Presidency for Performance Monitoring and Evaluation.

3. Ms Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu, the Deputy Minister of Public Works, will be the Deputy Minister for Women, Children and Persons with Disability.

4. Mr S. Lechesa Tsenoli, chairperson of the portfolio committee on cooperative governance and traditional affairs, has been appointed as Deputy Minister for Rural Development and Land Reform.

5. ANC Member of Parliament, Ms Thembisa Stella Ndabeni, will become the Deputy Minister of Communications.