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New finance minister for S Africa | New finance minister for S Africa |
(30 minutes later) | |
New South African President Jacob Zuma has named Pravin Gordhan as his new finance minister. | New South African President Jacob Zuma has named Pravin Gordhan as his new finance minister. |
He will take over from Trevor Manuel, who has been appointed head of a new national planning body. | |
Mr Zuma has pledged to tackle the tough economic crisis, widespread poverty and rising crime, but insisted he would not hand out favours to his supporters. | Mr Zuma has pledged to tackle the tough economic crisis, widespread poverty and rising crime, but insisted he would not hand out favours to his supporters. |
He told a news conference he wanted an efficient, and caring administration with no laziness or incompetence. | He told a news conference he wanted an efficient, and caring administration with no laziness or incompetence. |
As head of the new National Planning Commission, Mr Manuel will now be responsible for strategic planning and co-ordination among government departments. | As head of the new National Planning Commission, Mr Manuel will now be responsible for strategic planning and co-ordination among government departments. |
"Comrade Trevor Manuel is being given a new structure, a very powerful structure, that is going to work out a national plan of government," Mr Zuma said. | "Comrade Trevor Manuel is being given a new structure, a very powerful structure, that is going to work out a national plan of government," Mr Zuma said. |
He said he believed the markets would react positively to his new appointments, but added: "Who can predict the markets?" | He said he believed the markets would react positively to his new appointments, but added: "Who can predict the markets?" |
Mr Zuma was elected president by parliament after the African National Congress won the general election last month, albeit with a slightly reduced majority. | Mr Zuma was elected president by parliament after the African National Congress won the general election last month, albeit with a slightly reduced majority. |
Afrikaner surprise | Afrikaner surprise |
Aaron Motsoaledi has been appointed to the key post of health minister, as the country tackles an HIV/Aids epidemic. | Aaron Motsoaledi has been appointed to the key post of health minister, as the country tackles an HIV/Aids epidemic. |
Mr Gordhan previously worked in the tax department and has been praised for steadily raising income. | Mr Gordhan previously worked in the tax department and has been praised for steadily raising income. |
His appointments were being watched for signs that he would reward left wing groups which supported his election campaign - including the South African Communist Party. | His appointments were being watched for signs that he would reward left wing groups which supported his election campaign - including the South African Communist Party. |
Communist party leader Blade Nzimande was named minister of higher education and training, but analysts say it is not a post likely to give him much influence over economic policy. | Communist party leader Blade Nzimande was named minister of higher education and training, but analysts say it is not a post likely to give him much influence over economic policy. |
Former President Kgalema Motlanthe was named deputy president. | Former President Kgalema Motlanthe was named deputy president. |
KEY CABINET POSTS Deputy President: Kgalema MotlantheNational Planning Commission: Trevor ManuelMonitoring and Evaluation: Collins ChabaneFinance: Pravin GordhanJustice: Jeff RadebeDefence: Lindiwe SisuluHealth: Aaron MotsoalediInternational relations: Maite Nkoana-MashabaneMinister of Human Settlements: Tokyo Sexwale | KEY CABINET POSTS Deputy President: Kgalema MotlantheNational Planning Commission: Trevor ManuelMonitoring and Evaluation: Collins ChabaneFinance: Pravin GordhanJustice: Jeff RadebeDefence: Lindiwe SisuluHealth: Aaron MotsoalediInternational relations: Maite Nkoana-MashabaneMinister of Human Settlements: Tokyo Sexwale |
Mr Zuma also announced the creation of a ministry for monitoring and evaluation to oversee the performance of government. | Mr Zuma also announced the creation of a ministry for monitoring and evaluation to oversee the performance of government. |
The BBC's Peter Biles says one of the biggest surprises is Dr Pieter Mulder, leader of the Afrikaner nationalist Freedom Front Plus party, who becomes deputy minister of Agriculture. | The BBC's Peter Biles says one of the biggest surprises is Dr Pieter Mulder, leader of the Afrikaner nationalist Freedom Front Plus party, who becomes deputy minister of Agriculture. |
This will give white Afrikaners a voice in government, our correspondent says. | This will give white Afrikaners a voice in government, our correspondent says. |
In other appointments, Barbara Hogan has been moved from health to public enterprises. | In other appointments, Barbara Hogan has been moved from health to public enterprises. |
The health portfolio was given to provincial education minister from eastern South Africa, Aaron Motsoaledi. | The health portfolio was given to provincial education minister from eastern South Africa, Aaron Motsoaledi. |
Health experts had wanted Mr Zuma to retain Ms Hogan in the post. She took over from Manto Tshabalala-Msimang - a highly controversial minister criticised for her handling of South Africa's HIV/Aids epidemic - in October 2008. | Health experts had wanted Mr Zuma to retain Ms Hogan in the post. She took over from Manto Tshabalala-Msimang - a highly controversial minister criticised for her handling of South Africa's HIV/Aids epidemic - in October 2008. |
At his inauguration on Saturday, Mr Zuma warned of hard economic times ahead. | At his inauguration on Saturday, Mr Zuma warned of hard economic times ahead. |
"Jobs are being lost in every economy across the world," he said. "We will not be spared the negative impact, and are beginning to feel the pinch." | "Jobs are being lost in every economy across the world," he said. "We will not be spared the negative impact, and are beginning to feel the pinch." |
Mr Zuma is under pressure from his grass-roots supporters to increasing state spending on job creation, delivering services such as water, housing and electricity and improving the education system. | Mr Zuma is under pressure from his grass-roots supporters to increasing state spending on job creation, delivering services such as water, housing and electricity and improving the education system. |
But investors would be alarmed if spending was increased too much. | But investors would be alarmed if spending was increased too much. |
They praised Mr Manuel's handling of the economy during his 13 years as finance minister, saying he had largely kept state expenditure within limits the country can afford. | They praised Mr Manuel's handling of the economy during his 13 years as finance minister, saying he had largely kept state expenditure within limits the country can afford. |