South Africa's Ramaphosa announces cabinet that includes ex-opposition leader

RFI

1 July 2024 at 10:59 am·1-min read

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa appointed former opposition leader John Steenhuisen as minister of agriculture on Sunday, bringing the Democratic Alliance and other parties into his new coalition cabinet.

Cyril Ramaphosa's African National Congress (ANC) was forced to join forces with rival parties to stay in power after losing its majority for the first time in three decades in the 29 May election.

The announcement of the new cabinet of the government of national unity followed weeks of protracted and at times acrimonious negotiations.

Ramaphosa retained the ANC's Enoch Godongwana as finance minister while Ronald Lamola was appointed minister of international relations and cooperation, replacing Naledi Pandor.

Gwede Mantashe stayed on as mineral and petroleum resources minister but the president removed energy from his portfolio. The combination of mineral resources had been seen by many as creating a prejudice in favour of coal as a source of power generation.

Energy will now fall within the portfolio of Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa.

"These men and women we have appointed to the executive reflect the diversity of our nation," Ramaphosa said. "In the spirit of partnership and collaboration, the incoming government will work together."

Ramaphosa re-elected as South African leader after historic coalition deal

Moving on from history

Some minor parties also saw their leaders receive cabinet posts.

(with Reuters)

HuffPost
Reporter Reveals 'Real Anger' From Biden White House Aides After Debate
They were "shocked" and felt "they had not been told the truth," said Axios' Alex Thompson.
The Telegraph
Orban urges Zelensky to accept Kremlin ceasefire offer
Viktor Orban has made a surprise visit to Kyiv where he urged Volodymyr Zelensky to accept the Kremlin’s offer of a ceasefire.
The Telegraph
Belarus threatens nuclear use as Russia blamed for jamming GPS - Ukraine: The Latest, Podcast
Today, we bring you the latest news from Ukraine, look at how Russia has been blamed for jamming GPS signals on British military jets and ask quite why Belarus - a country hosting Russian nuclear missiles - is rattling the nuclear sabre once more.
HuffPost
Harvard Law Professor Delivers Chilling Prediction After Trump Immunity Ruling
Laurence Tribe explained what the Supreme Court decision means in "practical purposes" and it's "devastating."
HuffPost
'Very Bad News' For Trump: Lawrence O'Donnell Says Ruling Could Backfire Quickly
The MSNBC host revealed how the former president's case could be back in court sooner than anyone realizes.
The Telegraph
Russian air strike ‘destroys five Ukrainian fighter jets’ at airbase
A Russian missile attack destroyed five warplanes at a Ukrainian airbase primed to receive F-16 fighter jets from Kyiv’s Nato allies.
CNN
A growing club led by Xi and Putin to counter the US is adding a staunchly pro-Russia member
A club of Eurasian countries spearheaded by China and Russia to advance their leaders’ vision of an alternative world order is set to expand again this week – this time adding a staunch Russian ally that has openly supported Moscow’s war on Ukraine.
The Independent
‘A terrible disservice’: Biden slams Supreme Court immunity ruling, says it lets presidents ignore the law
President Joe Biden did not take questions after speaking on the Supreme Court ruling, despite questions swirling after his debate performance
The Hill
7 Democrats being floated as potential Biden replacements
President Biden’s campaign is intensely trying to quell speculation that he may drop out of the 2024 race following his lackluster debate performance last week. Most top Democrats have voiced support for Biden continuing in the race, while members of his family, including first lady Jill Biden, have declared they also want him to remain…
Time
Democrats Finally Saying It Aloud: Biden Might Need to Go
Even after Nancy Pelosi raised questions on Biden's health, the party’s leaders have failed to meet the moment, writes Philip Elliott in The D.C. Brief
The Telegraph
Someone is standing up to Beijing’s ‘Nine Dash Line’ South China Sea land-grab
Scarborough Shoal is a ring of rocks and reefs 29 miles around that lies within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea west of Luzon, the Philippines’ biggest island. Unfortunately for the Philippines, the Shoal also lies within the so-called “Nine Dash Line” under which China attempts to claim that it owns more or less the entire South China Sea – in defiance of international law and international court judgement.
INSIDER
Carrier strike group commander who oversaw 'unprecedented' Red Sea battle says the US Navy needs to make sure it's ready for a drone fight
Rear Adm. Marc Miguez, who oversaw months of combat between the US Navy and the Houthis, shared what he learned from the Red Sea battle.
INSIDER
Russia's war-driven economy is so hot that the World Bank upgraded it to a 'high-income country'
Russia's trade rebounded by nearly 7% last year, while activities in the financial sector and construction grew by 6.6% and 3.6% respectively.
People
Are UFOs Real? What the Pentagon Has Learned
"The most common misconception is that [UFOs] are all the same thing and they're all extraterrestrial, and neither of those are true," said one government expert
Reuters
Biden says he 'nearly fell asleep' during debate after world travel
U.S. President Joe Biden on Tuesday acknowledged his performance during last Thursday's presidential debate wasn't his best, but blamed it on jet lag after two overseas trips earlier in June. Biden has faced mounting questions about his 2024 reelection bid after last week's shaky debate performance, with one House of Representatives fellow Democrat on Tuesday publicly calling on him to withdraw from the race. Speaking at a campaign event in McLean, Virginia, on Tuesday evening, Biden admitted the debate against former President Donald Trump, his Republican rival, did not go well.
HuffPost
AOC Says She'll File Articles Of Impeachment Amid SCOTUS 'Corruption Crisis'
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's threat of impeachment comes after the court ruled on Trump's immunity argument.
AFP News
'Can't go back': Myanmar conscription exiles struggle in Thailand
When Myanmar's junta announced a conscription law to help crush a popular pro-democracy uprising, Khaing knew there was only one way to escape its clutches, and began planning her escape.- Smuggled for $220 - Shortly after enacting the law, the junta tightened requirements for people crossing Myanmar's land borders, and temporarily halted issuing foreign work permits for young men.
Associated Press
Israeli strike kills another senior Hezbollah commander as diplomats scramble for calm in Lebanon
An Israeli strike in southern Lebanon on Wednesday killed a senior Hezbollah commander as tensions between the two sides continue to boil, a Hezbollah official told The Associated Press. The strike near the southern coastal city of Tyre took place as global diplomatic efforts have intensified in recent weeks to prevent escalating clashes between Hezbollah and the Israeli military from spiraling into an all-out war that could possibly lead to a direct confrontation between Israel and Iran. A Hezbollah statement identified the killed commander as Mohammad Naameh Nasser, who went by the name “Abu Naameh,” his nom de guerre.
CNN
US government employees who resigned over Gaza policy release joint statement for first time
The US government employees who have publicly resigned in protest of the Biden administration’s Gaza policies released a joint statement on Tuesday for the first time, stating they “stand united in a shared belief that it is our collective responsibility to speak up” and outlining steps they believe the US government should take.
CNN Business
The world is sitting on a $91 trillion problem. ‘Hard choices’ are coming
Governments owe an unprecedented $91 trillion, an amount almost equal to the size of the global economy and one that will ultimately exact a heavy toll on their populations.

Moving on from history

Latest stories