South African President Cyril Ramaphosa executed a late-night cabinet reshuffle Tuesday, demoting former Democratic Alliance leader John Steenhuisen from agriculture minister to deputy minister of trade, industry, and competition.
The shift followed an official request from newly elected DA federal leader Geordin Hill-Lewis, who sought structural changes to the party’s legislative representation within the ruling Government of National Unity.
Steenhuisen’s removal from the agriculture portfolio follows mounting pressure over a severe foot-and-mouth disease outbreak. Fellow DA member Willie Aucamp will step in to fill the vacancy.
Ramaphosa also utilized the national shake-up to appoint African National Congress senior figure Dina Pule as the new social development minister, filling a vacancy left by the dismissed Sisisi Tolashe.
Pule returns to the executive for the first time since 2013, when she was sacked by former President Jacob Zuma following severe parliamentary ethics investigations into financial misconduct.
The Presidency confirmed the appointments follow the Constitution, stating the adjustments occurred “following consultation with the leadership of the Democratic Alliance as a member of the Government of National Unity.”
