South Africa’s historic unity government unveils first cabinet

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South Africa’s government of national unity (GNU) has unveiled its first cabinet after the ANC and the Democratic Alliance (DA) broke the deadlock in fraught discussions over the division of portfolios. 

DA leader John Steenhuisen has been named minister of agriculture as his party enters government for the first time, one of six DA positions in the 32 strong cabinet.

The ANC retains twenty portfolios – including Enoch Godongwana as finance minister – while six other portfolios are shared among smaller parties. 

The ANC’s Paul Mashatile remains as deputy president, while Naledi Pandor has been replaced as minister of international relations and cooperation by Ronald Lamola. The ministry of public enterprises will be scrapped and its functions assumed by the presidency, the ministries of electricity and energy will be merged, and there will be a separate ministry of mineral and petroleum resources.

The DA will assume the leadership of the ministries of agriculture; basic education; public works and infrastructure; home affairs; forestry, fisheries and the environment; and communications and digital technologies. The party has also secured six deputy ministries, including Ashor Sarupen at finance and Samantha