John Steenhuisen, the newly appointed Minister of Agriculture and leader of the DA, says that the creation of jobs and quality service delivery will be prioritised by the party’s nominees to the government of national unity (GNU) cabinet.
Steenhuisen said the allocation of six ministerial positions and six deputy minister positions to the DA would ensure that the party would be in a better position to represent its voters.
Speaking to the nation on Monday, he discussed the party’s response to the recently appointed GNU cabinet in his capacity as DA leader.
He also described the function that the DA will have in the new executive, which President Cyril Ramaphosa announced on Sunday.
Voices of DA voters will be heard
Steenhuisen expressed his satisfaction that the DA is represented in all governmental branches thanks to the ministerial positions it was awarded.
“For the very first time, the voices of DA voters will be heard in every sector and in every room where a decision is made about our country’s future,” said Steenhuisen.
“We will use portfolios in the economics sector, such as agriculture, public works, and infrastructure; forestry; fisheries and the environment; trade; industry and competition; and small business development, to pursue rapid growth and a job-creation agenda for the country.
“In the governance sector, we will build service delivery through reforming and enhancing the vital frontline portfolio of Home Affairs.
“We will use our representation as minister of basic education as well as deputy minister of higher education to focus like a laser on improving the quality of education our children and students receive.”
He said the DA’s officials in the cabinet will continue to implement the principles of the party in their respective government roles.
According to Steenhuisen, the DA’s cabinet officials will prioritise job-creation, bringing an end to the electricity crisis, combating corruption and maladministration, and improving basic service delivery, among others.
Appointments will not be politicised
He stated that the DA’s ministers will also ensure that suspicious tenders are investigated.
“Any suspicious tenders could be investigated, and senior civil service appointments will not be obstructed or politicised,” he said.
“As the cabinet is now in place, the DA is ready to get to work and serve the people of South Africa.
“We will build government institutions that are now under our custodianship. As the DA takes up its place around the cabinet table, the same priorities will guide the work we do.
“We must not kid ourselves into thinking that any of this will be easy. We should not be carried away by the significance of the moment. The truth is, the road ahead will be a difficult one.
“South Africa has the highest unemployment rate in the world and one of the highest crime rates in the world, and corruption is endemic.
“None of us should expect problems to be solved overnight. We should not expect all problems to be solved by politicians alone. We need your help to get the country moving in the right direction.”
Ministries run by the DA
The DA ministers represented in the GNU cabinet include Steenhuisen (agriculture), Siviwe Gwarube (basic education), Solly Malatsi (communications and digital technologies), Dion George (forestry, fisheries and the environment), Leon Schreiber (home affairs) and Dean Macpherson (public works and infrastructure).
The DA deputy ministers are Samantha Graham (electricity and energy), Ashor Sarupen (finance), Mimmy Gondwe (higher education), Jane Sithole (small business development), Andrew Whitfield (trade, industry and competition), and Isaac Seitlholo (water and sanitation).
