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| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| 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 economic planning body. | He will take over from Trevor Manuel, who has been appointed head of a new economic planning body. |
| Mr Zuma has pledged to tackle the tough economic crisis, widespread poverty and rising crime, but insisted he will 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 will not hand out favours to his supporters. |
| Aaron Motsoaledi has been appointed to the key post of health minsiter, 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. |
| 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?" |
| Reduced majority | 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. | Mr Zuma was elected president by parliament after the African National Congress won the general election last month, albeit with a slightly reduced majority. |
| 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. | |
| Mr Zuma also announced the creation of a ministry for monitoring and evaluation to oversee the performance of government. | |
| S AFRICA CABINET KEY POSTS Deputy President: Kgalema MotlantheNational Planning Commission: Trevor ManuelMonitoring and Evaluation: Collins ChabaneFinance: Pravin GordhanJustice: Jeff RadebeDefence: Lindiwe SisuluHealth: Aaron Motsoaledi | |
| 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. |
| 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. |