# Cabinet of Kgalema Motlanthe

The cabinet of Kgalema Motlanthe was the cabinet of the government of South Africa between 25 September 2008 and 9 May 2009. It was constituted by Motlanthe after his election on 24 September and served until after the April 2009 general election. It replaced the cabinet of former President Thabo Mbeki, who had resigned from office at the instruction of his political party.

## History

On 25 September 2008, the day after Thabo Mbeki's resignation, Kgalema Motlanthe was indirectly elected as the third President of South Africa. He was inaugurated as president later the same day, and he announced his new cabinet during his inauguration speech. Because he was expected to serve only until the 2009 general election, Motlanthe's cabinet was widely referred to as a caretaker government.
Motlanthe retained many of the ministers who had served in Mbeki's cabinet, but Mbeki's departure had precipitated a wave of ministerial resignations that necessitated new appointments. Baleka Mbete was newly appointed as Deputy President of South Africa, replacing Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, and seven new ministers joined the cabinet. Four replaced ministers who had resigned: Richard Baloyi replaced Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi, Siyabonga Cwele replaced Ronnie Kasrils, Sicelo Shiceka replaced Sydney Mufamadi, and Geoff Doidge replaced Thoko Didiza. Three other new ministers – Barbara Hogan, Nathi Mthethwa, and Enver Surty – replaced ministers who were reassigned to new portfolios in order to compensate for additional resignations. The reassigned ministers were Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, Charles Nqakula, and Brigitte Mabandla, who replaced, respectively, Essop Pahad, Mosiuoa Lekota, and Alec Erwin. Tshabalala-Msimang's departure from the Ministry of Health received international attention because of her notorious mishandling of the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
During his seven-month presidency, Motlanthe did not effect any cabinet reshuffles. Minister Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri died on 6 April 2009, a fortnight before the general election, and Minister Tshabalala-Msimang took over her Communications portfolio in an acting capacity.

## List of ministers

| Portfolio | Minister | Took office | Left office | Party |
| President of South Africa | Kgalema Motlanthe | 25 September 2008 | 9 May 2009 | ANC |
| Deputy President of South Africa | Baleka Mbete | 25 September 2008 | 9 May 2009 | ANC |
| Minister in the Presidency | Manto Tshabalala-Msimang | 25 September 2008 | 9 May 2009 | ANC |
| Minister of Agriculture and Land Affairs | Lulama Xingwana | 25 September 2008 | 9 May 2009 | ANC |
| Minister of Arts and Culture | Pallo Jordan | 25 September 2008 | 9 May 2009 | ANC |
| Minister of Communications | Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri | 25 September 2008 | 6 April 2009 | ANC |
| Minister of Correctional Services | Ngconde Balfour | 25 September 2008 | 9 May 2009 | ANC |
| Minister of Defence | Charles Nqakula | 25 September 2008 | 9 May 2009 | ANC |
| Minister of Education | Naledi Pandor | 25 September 2008 | 9 May 2009 | ANC |
| Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism | Marthinus van Schalkwyk | 25 September 2008 | 9 May 2009 | ANC |
| Minister of Finance | Trevor Manuel | 25 September 2008 | 9 May 2009 | ANC |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs | Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma | 25 September 2008 | 9 May 2009 | ANC |
| Minister of Health | Barbara Hogan | 25 September 2008 | 9 May 2009 | ANC |
| Minister of Home Affairs | Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula | 25 September 2008 | 9 May 2009 | ANC |
| Minister of Housing | Lindiwe Sisulu | 25 September 2008 | 9 May 2009 | ANC |
| Minister of Intelligence | Siyabonga Cwele | 25 September 2008 | 9 May 2009 | ANC |
| Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development | Enver Surty | 25 September 2008 | 9 May 2009 | ANC |
| Minister of Labour | Membathisi Mdladlana | 25 September 2008 | 9 May 2009 | ANC |
| Minister of Minerals and Energy | Buyelwa Sonjica | 25 September 2008 | 9 May 2009 | ANC |
| Minister of Provincial and Local Government | Sicelo Shiceka | 25 September 2008 | 9 May 2009 | ANC |
| Minister of Public Enterprises | Brigitte Mabandla | 25 September 2008 | 9 May 2009 | ANC |
| Minister of Public Service and Administration | Richard Baloyi | 25 September 2008 | 9 May 2009 | ANC |
| Minister of Public Works | Geoff Doidge | 25 September 2008 | 9 May 2009 | ANC |
| Minister of Safety and Security | Nathi Mthethwa | 25 September 2008 | 9 May 2009 | ANC |
| Minister of Science and Technology | Mosibudi Mangena | 25 September 2008 | 9 May 2009 | AZAPO |
| Minister of Social Development | Zola Skweyiya | 25 September 2008 | 9 May 2009 | ANC |
| Minister of Sport and Recreation | Makhenkesi Stofile | 25 September 2008 | 9 May 2009 | ANC |
| Minister of Trade and Industry | Mandisi Mpahlwa | 25 September 2008 | 9 May 2009 | ANC |
| Minister of Transport | Jeff Radebe | 25 September 2008 | 9 May 2009 | ANC |
| Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry | Lindiwe Hendricks | 25 September 2008 | 9 May 2009 | ANC |

## List of deputy ministers

Although deputy ministers are not members of the South African Cabinet, they are appointed by the president and assist cabinet ministers in the execution of their duties. Motlanthe's deputy ministers were, like his ministers, appointed on 25 September 2008. Motlanthe appointed only two new deputy ministers on 25 September: Molefi Sefularo, to fill a longstanding vacancy in the office of the Deputy Minister of Health, and Fezile Bhengu, to replace Mluleki George as Deputy Minister of Defence.
After a short delay, on 5 November he appointed Nhlanhla Nene to the position of Deputy Minister of Finance, which had been vacated by Jabu Moleketi's resignation in September. On the same day, he appointed André Gaum to the vacant position of Deputy Minister of Education (held by Minister Surty until September) and created a new position of third Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for Fatima Hajaig. Motlanthe did not appoint deputy ministers in the Ministries of Housing, Intelligence, Labour, Minerals and Energy, Public Enterprises, Public Service and Administration, Transport, or Water Affairs, nor did he appoint a deputy minister in the Presidency.
| Portfolio | Minister | Took office | Left office | Party |
| Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Land Affairs | Dirk du Toit | 25 September 2008 | 9 May 2009 | ANC |
| Deputy Minister of Arts and Culture | Ntombazana Botha | 25 September 2008 | 9 May 2009 | ANC |
| Deputy Minister of Communications | Roy Padayachie | 25 September 2008 | 9 May 2009 | ANC |
| Deputy Minister of Correctional Services | Loretta Jacobus | 25 September 2008 | 9 May 2009 | ANC |
| Deputy Minister of Defence | Fezile Bhengu | 25 September 2008 | 9 May 2009 | ANC |
| Deputy Minister of Education | André Gaum | 5 November 2008 | 9 May 2009 | ANC |
| Deputy Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism | Rejoice Mabudafhasi | 25 September 2008 | 9 May 2009 | ANC |
| Deputy Minister of Finance | Nhlanhla Nene | 5 November 2008 | 9 May 2009 | ANC |
| Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs | Aziz Pahad | 25 September 2008 | 9 May 2009 | ANC |
| Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs | Sue van der Merwe | 25 September 2008 | 9 May 2009 | ANC |
| Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs | Fatima Hajaig | 5 November 2008 | 9 May 2009 | ANC |
| Deputy Minister of Health | Molefi Sefularo | 25 September 2008 | 9 May 2009 | ANC |
| Deputy Minister of Home Affairs | Malusi Gigaba | 25 September 2008 | 9 May 2009 | ANC |
| Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development | Johnny de Lange | 25 September 2008 | 9 May 2009 | ANC |
| Deputy Minister of Provincial and Local Government | Nomatyala Hangana | 25 September 2008 | 9 May 2009 | ANC |
| Deputy Minister of Public Works | Ntopile Kganyago | 25 September 2008 | 9 May 2009 | UDM |
| Deputy Minister of Safety and Security | Susan Shabangu | 25 September 2008 | 9 May 2009 | ANC |
| Deputy Minister of Science and Technology | Derek Hanekom | 25 September 2008 | 9 May 2009 | ANC |
| Deputy Minister of Social Development | Jean Swanson-Jacobs | 25 September 2008 | 9 May 2009 | ANC |
| Deputy Minister of Sport and Recreation | Gert Oosthuizen | 25 September 2008 | 9 May 2009 | ANC |
| Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry | Rob Davies | 25 September 2008 | 9 May 2009 | ANC |
| Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry | Elizabeth Thabethe | 25 September 2008 | 9 May 2009 | ANC |