Pretoria - Cabinet announced on Thursday the appointments of Lakela Kaunda and Vusi Mona as Deputy Directors General (DDGs) in the Presidency.
During its ordinary meeting on Wednesday, Cabinet approved the appointment of Ms Kaunda as DDG and Head of the Private Office of the President and Mr Mona's appointment as DDG for Communications.
According to the Presidency, Ms Kaunda will be responsible for the overall strategic and operational management of the Private Office of the President, ensuring alignment with government priorities and programmes.
"She brings to the Presidency more than 20 years of experience in the communications as well as political and strategic management fields," said the Presidency in a statement.
A former journalist and newspaper editor, Ms Kaunda was chairperson of the South African National Editors Forum from 1999-2000.
Ms Kaunda had previously worked as Head of Communications and Special Adviser to the Minister of Social Development Dr Zola Skweyiya, and was spokesperson to Mr Zuma when he was the Deputy President of the Republic.
She also served as President Zuma's Public Relations Officer when he was MEC for Economic Affairs and Tourism in KwaZulu-Natal.
Mr Mona was Editor of City Press from late 2000 to the end of 2003, after which he became the managing director of a corporate communications firm, The Corporate Communications Agency, a subsidiary of The Agency for Marketing and Advertising.
Most recently, he was the head of communications, media and public relations at Rhema Ministries in South Africa.
