Cabinet congratulates new appointments

Friday, June 15, 2012

Pretoria - Cabinet has congratulated the newly appointed members of the Executive as well as General Riah Phiyega who has been appointed as National Commissioner of Police.

On Tuesday, President Jacob Zuma announced that Defence Minister Lindiwe Sisulu was now Minister of Public Service and Administration, while Correctional Services Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula moved over to Defence. Transport Minister Sbu Ndebele was moved to the Correctional Services portfolio, while Ben Martins took over from Ndebele.

Jeremy Cronin was moved from Department of Transport to Public Works - as a Deputy Minister. Other Deputy Minister appointments include Sindisiwe Chikunga to the Transport portfolio, Gratitude Magwanishe to Public Enterprises, Hlengiwe Mkhize to Economic Development and Mduduzi Manana to Higher Education and Training.

"Cabinet has ... wished them well in their new portfolios," Minister in the Presidency, Collins Chabane said on Friday.

He noted that the appointment of Phiyega was significant as she was the first woman to occupy this position.

Chabane said Cabinet was confident in her credentials that she would be able to fulfill the role as expected.

Phiyega on Wednesday said she was humbled by her appointment and called on South Africans to give her time to prove herself.

She said she was willing to learn and called on her critics to judge her in a years' time on her capacity to learn what was required to do her job. "I am willing to serve...I do believe I have something to give. I've had quite an illustrious career both in the public and private sector," she added.

She assured South Africans that the fight against crime would continue and police would work tirelessly to ensure the safety of South Africans.