Hogan replaced as Health Minister

Sunday, May 10, 2009

Pretoria - President Jacob Zuma has named Aaron Motsoaledi as the new minister to head the Department of Health.

He will replace Barbara Hogan, who has become the Minister of Public Enterprises.

Ms Hogan had replaced Manto Tshabalala Msimang, in outgoing President Kgalema Motlanthe's administration, when he took over the leadership from President Thabo Mbeki in September last year.

Mr Motsoaledi has held the posts of MEC for Agriculture, Land and Environment, MEC for Education and MEC for Transport in the Limpopo Provincial Legislature.

He will have the major task of tackling South Africa's high rate of HIV and AIDS infections and increasing access to antiretroviral treatment.

Budget constraints at provincial level, lack of qualified staff in state hospitals and ensuring a decline in the rate of people infected with Tuberculosis, are also expected to be on his list of priorities.

Dr Motsoaledi would need to ensure that the government's target to provide 80 percent of HIV-positive South Africans with treatment by 2011 is met.

President Zuma was sworn in as South Africa's fourth democratically-elected president at a lavish ceremony in Pretoria on Saturday, following the ANC's victory in the 22 April general elections.