The third cabinet of Cyril Ramaphosa, also known as the Government of National Unity (GNU), is the incumbent cabinet of the Government of South Africa. It was appointed on 30 June 2024 after the May 2024 general election resulted in a hung parliament. Ramaphosa's African National Congress (ANC), having lost its absolute majority, formed a ten-member coalition government.
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|---|---|
9th Cabinet of the Republic of South Africa (since the 1994 election) | |
| 2024–present | |
Cyril Ramaphosa (2024) | |
| Date formed | 30 June 2024 (1 year, 5 months and 20 days) |
| People and organisations | |
| President | Cyril Ramaphosa |
| Deputy President | Paul Mashatile |
| No. of ministers | 32 ministers |
| Member parties |
|
| Status in legislature | Majority (national unity) |
| Opposition parties | Progressive Caucus |
| Opposition leaders | John Hlophe |
| History | |
| Election | 2024 election |
| Legislature term | Seventh Parliament |
| Predecessor | Ramaphosa II |
The coalition was formed on 14 June 2024, when the Democratic Alliance, Inkatha Freedom Party, and Patriotic Alliance joined the ANC in supporting Ramaphosa's election to a second full term as President of South Africa. All four original members of the coalition are represented in the cabinet, as are three later entrants, the Good Party, Pan Africanist Congress, and Freedom Front Plus. The United Democratic Movement and Al Jama-ah are represented by deputy ministers, and Rise Mzansi participates in the legislative coalition but is not represented in the national executive.
The government operates with a comfortable majority in the National Assembly. It is the first coalition government in South Africa since the constitutionally mandated post-apartheid Government of National Unity, and it marks the first time that the ANC has had to govern without an absolute majority.
Background
A South African general election was held on 29 May 2024 to elect the 28th Parliament of South Africa. Support for the incumbent governing party, the African National Congress (ANC), significantly declined in the election; the ANC remained the largest party but lost its majority in the National Assembly for the first time since the inaugural post-apartheid election in 1994. The centrist Democratic Alliance (DA) remained in second place with a slight increase. uMkhonto weSizwe (MK), a left-wing populist party founded six months prior to the election and led by former president Jacob Zuma, came in third place.
On 14 June 2024, the ANC, DA, Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), and Patriotic Alliance (PA) agreed to form a coalition government, which they labelled a "Government of National Unity" (GNU). They re-elected the ANC's Cyril Ramaphosa as President of South Africa. Ramaphosa was inaugurated for a second term on 19 June.
Meanwhile, the coalition ballooned to include a total of ten political parties. Good joined shortly after the first sitting of Parliament, followed by the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC) on 19 June and the Freedom Front Plus (FF+) on 20 June. The United Democratic Movement (UDM) announced its entrance on 21 June, Rise Mzansi (RISE) on 22 June, and Al Jama-ah on 23 June. United Africans Transformation (UAT) was briefly an eleventh member, joining on 24 June but leaving after it was excluded from the cabinet on 30 June.
History
On 29 May 2025, Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, announced that South Africa is commemorating one year since the National and Provincial Elections in 2024, and therefore, one year of the Government of National Unity. The Minister stated that she was proud that South African politicians were able to form the current government in just 14 days, given the amount of time it takes some so-called developed countries to form governments.
Ntshavheni further stated that the milestone represents a renewed commitment to stability, collaboration, and inclusive governance. The Minister said that the historic GNU partnership, which includes 10 political parties from across the ideological spectrum in South Africa, showcases the importance of prioritizing the needs of the country and its people, by putting potential points of contention second, and placing the nation first.
Cabinet formation and reshuffles
President Ramaphosa announced his third cabinet on 30 June 2024. The Deputy President, Paul Mashatile, was sworn in on 3 July alongside the new ministers and deputy ministers.
On 3 December 2024, President Ramaphosa announced his first reshuffle of the cabinet, affecting four ministries: ministers Mmamoloko Kubayi and Thembi Simelane swapped portfolios and deputy ministers Judith Nemadzinga-Tshabalala and Phumzile Mgcina likewise swapped portfolios.
Ministers
- Party legend
- African National Congress (ANC)
- Democratic Alliance (DA)
- Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP)
- Patriotic Alliance (PA)
- Good (GOOD)
- Freedom Front Plus (FF+)
- Pan Africanist Congress of Azania (PAC)
- United Democratic Movement (UDM)
- Al Jama-ah
| Post | Minister | Term | Party | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| President of South Africa | His Excellency Cyril Ramaphosa | 2018 | – | ANC | |
| Deputy President of South Africa | His Excellency Paul Mashatile | 2023 | – | ANC | |
| Minister in the Presidency | The Hon. Khumbudzo Ntshavheni MP | 2023 | – | ANC | |
| Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities | The Hon. Sindisiwe Chikunga MP | 2024 | – | ANC | |
| Minister of Agriculture | The Hon. John Steenhuisen MP | 2024 | – | DA | |
| Minister of Basic Education | The Hon. Siviwe Gwarube MP | 2024 | – | DA | |
| Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies | The Hon. Solly Malatsi MP | 2024 | – | DA | |
| Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs | The Hon. Velenkosini Hlabisa MP | 2024 | – | IFP | |
| Minister of Correctional Services | The Hon. Pieter Groenewald MP | 2024 | – | FF+ | |
| Minister of Defence and Military Veterans | The Hon. Angie Motshekga MP | 2024 | – | ANC | |
| Minister of Electricity and Energy | The Hon. Kgosientsho Ramokgopa MP | 2024 | – | ANC | |
| Minister of Employment and Labour | The Hon. Nomakhosazana Meth MP | 2024 | – | ANC | |
| Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment | The Hon. Willie Aucamp MP | 2025 | – | DA | |
| The Hon. Dion George MP | 2024 | 2025 | DA | ||
| Minister of Finance | The Hon. Enoch Godongwana MP | 2021 | – | ANC | |
| Minister of Health | The Hon. Aaron Motsoaledi MP | 2024 | – | ANC | |
| Minister of Higher Education | The Hon. Buti Manamela MP | 2025 | – | ANC | |
| The Hon. Nobuhle Nkabane MP | 2024 | 2025 | ANC | ||
| Minister of Home Affairs | The Hon. Leon Schreiber MP | 2024 | – | DA | |
| Minister of Human Settlements | The Hon. Thembi Simelane MP | 2024 | – | ANC | |
| The Hon. Mmamoloko Kubayi MP | 2021 | 2024 | ANC | ||
| Minister of International Relations and Cooperation | The Hon. Ronald Lamola MP | 2024 | – | ANC | |
| Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development | The Hon. Mmamoloko Kubayi MP | 2024 | – | ANC | |
| The Hon. Thembi Simelane MP | 2024 | 2024 | ANC | ||
| Minister of Land Reform and Rural Development | The Hon. Mzwanele Nyhontso MP | 2024 | – | PAC | |
| Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources | The Hon. Gwede Mantashe MP | 2024 | – | ANC | |
| Minister of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation | The Hon. Maropene Ramokgopa MP | 2023 | – | ANC | |
| Minister of Police | The Hon. Senzo Mchunu MP | 2024 | – | ANC | |
| Minister of Public Service and Administration | The Hon. Mzamo Buthelezi MP | 2024 | – | IFP | |
| Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure | The Hon. Dean Macpherson MP | 2024 | – | DA | |
| Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation | The Hon. Blade Nzimande MP | 2024 | – | ANC | |
| Minister of Small Business Development | The Hon. Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams MP | 2021 | – | ANC | |
| Minister of Social Development | The Hon. Sisisi Tolashe MP | 2024 | – | ANC | |
| Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture | The Hon. Gayton McKenzie MP | 2024 | – | PA | |
| Minister of Tourism | The Hon. Patricia de Lille MP | 2023 | – | GOOD | |
| Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition | The Hon. Parks Tau MP | 2024 | – | ANC | |
| Minister of Transport | The Hon. Barbara Creecy MP | 2024 | – | ANC | |
| Minister of Water and Sanitation | The Hon. Pemmy Majodina MP | 2024 | – | ANC | |
Deputy ministers
| Post | Deputy Minister | Term | Party | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deputy Minister of Agriculture | The Hon. Rosemary Nokuzola Capa MP | 2024 | – | ANC | |
| Deputy Minister of Land Reform and Rural Development | The Hon. Stanley Mathabatha MP | 2024 | – | ANC | |
| Deputy Minister of Basic Education | The Hon. Reginah Mhaule MP | 2019 | – | ANC | |
| Deputy Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies | The Hon. Mondli Gungubele MP | 2024 | – | ANC | |
| Deputy Ministers of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs | The Hon. Dickson Masemola MP | 2024 | – | ANC | |
| The Hon. Zolile Burns‐Ncamashe MP | 2023 | – | ANC | ||
| Deputy Minister of Correctional Services | The Hon. Lindiwe Ntshalintshali MP | 2024 | – | ANC | |
| Deputy Ministers of Defence and Military Veterans | The Hon. Bantu Holomisa MP | 2024 | – | UDM | |
| The Hon. Richard Mkhungo MP | 2024 | – | ANC | ||
| Deputy Minister of Electricity and Energy | The Hon. Samantha Graham MP | 2024 | – | DA | |
| Deputy Ministers of Employment and Labour | The Hon. Jomo Sibiya MP | 2024 | – | ANC | |
| The Hon. Judith Tshabalala MP | 2024 | – | ANC | ||
| The Hon. Phumzile Mgcina MP | 2024 | 2024 | ANC | ||
| Deputy Ministers of Finance | The Hon. David Masondo MP | 2019 | – | ANC | |
| The Hon. Ashor Sarupen MP | 2024 | – | DA | ||
| Deputy Ministers of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment | The Hon. Narend Singh MP | 2024 | – | IFP | |
| The Hon. Bernice Swarts MP | 2024 | – | ANC | ||
| Deputy Minister of Health | The Hon. Joe Phaahla MP | 2024 | – | ANC | |
| Deputy Ministers of Higher Education | The Hon. Buti Manamela MP | 2024 | – | ANC | |
| The Hon. Mimmy Gondwe MP | 2024 | – | DA | ||
| Deputy Minister of Home Affairs | The Hon. Njabulo Nzuza MP | 2019 | – | ANC | |
| Deputy Minister of Human Settlements | The Hon. Tandi Mahambehlala MP | 2024 | – | ANC | |
| Deputy Ministers of International Relations and Cooperation | The Hon. Alvin Botes MP | 2019 | – | ANC | |
| The Hon. Thandi Moraka MP | 2024 | – | ANC | ||
| Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development | The Hon. Andries Nel MP | 2024 | – | ANC | |
| Deputy Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources | The Hon. Phumzile Mgcina MP | 2024 | – | ANC | |
| The Hon. Judith Tshabalala MP | 2024 | 2024 | ANC | ||
| Deputy Minister of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation | The Hon. Seiso Mohai MP | 2024 | – | ANC | |
| Deputy Ministers of Police | The Hon. Polly Boshielo MP | 2024 | – | ANC | |
| The Hon. Cassel Mathale MP | 2019 | – | ANC | ||
| Deputy Ministers in the Presidency | The Hon. Nonceba Mhlauli MP | 2024 | – | ANC | |
| The Hon. Kenneth Morolong MP | 2023 | – | ANC | ||
| Deputy Minister of Public Service and Administration | The Hon. Pinky Kekana MP | 2024 | – | ANC | |
| Deputy Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure | The Hon. Sihle Zikalala MP | 2024 | – | ANC | |
| Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation | The Hon. Nomalungelo Gina MP | 2024 | – | ANC | |
| Deputy Minister of Small Business Development | The Hon. Jane Sithole MP | 2024 | – | DA | |
| Deputy Minister of Social Development | The Hon. Ganief Hendricks MP | 2024 | – | ALJ | |
| Deputy Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture | The Hon. Peace Mabe MP | 2024 | – | ANC | |
| Deputy Minister of Tourism | The Hon. Maggie Sotyu MP | 2024 | – | ANC | |
| Deputy Ministers of Trade, Industry and Competition | The Hon. Zuko Godlimpi MP | 2024 | – | ANC | |
| The Hon. Alexandra Abrahams MP | 2025 | – | DA | ||
| The Hon. Andrew Whitfield | 2024 | 2025 | DA | ||
| Deputy Minister of Transport | The Hon. Mkhuleko Hlengwa MP | 2024 | – | IFP | |
| Deputy Ministers of Water and Sanitation | The Hon. David Mahlobo MP | 2024 | – | ANC | |
| The Hon. Sello Seitlholo MP | 2024 | – | DA | ||
| Deputy Minister of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities | The Hon. Steve Letsike MP | 2024 | – | ANC | |
See also
- Multi-Party Charter
- Cabinet of South Africa
- 2024 South African government formation
- List of National Assembly members of the 28th Parliament of South Africa
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