23 September 2015
The new minister of Mineral Resources, Mosebenzi Joseph Zwane, will be sworn into office today at the Union Buildings.
This comes after President Jacob Zuma announced a minor cabinet reshuffle on Tuesday evening.
Ngoako Ramatlhodi will take the role of Public Service and Administration minister which became available after Minister Collins Chabane died in a motor accident in March.
Zwane is a Member of Parliament who has previously served as MEC in the portfolios of Agriculture and Rural Development as well as Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs in the Free State provincial government.
It means that Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa, who had been the acting Minister for Public Service, will now step down as Ramatlhodi takes up the position.
President Zuma thanked Mthethwa for temporarily filling the post and wished both Zwane and Ramathlodi well in their new portfolios.
Mining in South Africa
As minister of mineral resources, Zwane’s role will be central to keeping stability in an industry that increases South Africa’s global competiveness. The country produces the highest amount of manganese in the world, and South Africa remains the largest gold exporter on the continent.
Mining plays a vital role in the country. According to business news website, Moneyweb: “Mining accounts for more than half of the nation’s exports and employs about 440 000 people.”
Source: SAnews.gov
