SA Rocks

Jacob Zuma’s cabinet has come to light, been inducted and is taking office as we speak. It’s an interesting mixture, there are some changes, moves and shifts in position. The video in this post is a nice show of who’s who in the Cabinet. It’s always nice to see some faces put to the names that will govern us for the next few years.

Here’s the list in text format too:

President Zuma’s new Cabinet in alphabetical order is as follows:

1. Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries – Tina Joemat-Peterson

Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Dr Pieter Mulder

2. Minister of Arts and Culture – Lulu Xingwana

Deputy Minister of Arts and Culture – Paul Mashatile

3. Minister of Basic Education – Angie Motshekga

Deputy Minister of Basic Education – Enver Surty

4. Minister of Communications – Siphiwe Nyanda

Deputy Minister of Communications – Dina Pule

5. Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs – Sicelo Shiceka

Deputy Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Yunus Carrim

6. Minister of Correctional Services – Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula

Deputy Minister of Correctional Services – Hlengiwe Mkhize

7. Minister of Defence and Military Veterans – Lindiwe Sisulu

Deputy Minister of Defence and Military Veterans – Thabang Makwetla

8. Minister of Economic Development – Ebrahim Patel

Deputy Minister of Economic Development – Gwen Mahlangu-Nkabinde

9. Minister of Energy – Dipuo Peters

10. Minister of Finance – Pravin Gordhan

Deputy Minister of Finance – Nhlanhla Nene

11. Minister of Health – Dr Aaron Motsoaledi

Deputy Minister of Health – Dr Molefi Sefularo

12. Minister of Higher Education and Training – Dr Blade Nzimande

13. Minister of Home Affairs – Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma

Deputy Minister of Home Affairs – Malusi Gigaba

14. Minister of Human Settlements – Tokyo Sexwale

Deputy Minister of Human Settlements – Zou Kota

15. Minister of International Relations and Cooperation – Maite Nkoana-Mashabane

Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation (1) – Ebrahim Ismail Ebrahim

Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation (2) – Sue van der Merwe

16. Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development – Jeff Radebe

Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development – Andries Nel

17. Minister of Labour – Membathisi Mdladlana

18. Minister of Mining – Susan Shabangu

19. Minister of Police – Nathi Mthethwa

Deputy Minister of Police – Fikile Mbalula

20. Minister of Public Enterprises – Barbara Hogan

Deputy Minister of Public Enterprises – Enoch Godongwana

21. Minister for the Public Service and Administration – Richard Baloyi

Deputy Minister for the Public Service and Administration – Roy Padayachie

22. Minister of Public Works – Geoff Doidge

Deputy Minister of Public Works – Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu

23. Minister of Rural Development and Land Reform – Gugile Nkwinti

Deputy Minister of Rural Development and Land Reform – Dr Joe Phaahla

24. Minister of Science and Technology – Naledi Pandor

Deputy Minister of Science and Technology – Derek Hanekom

25. Minister of Social Development – Edna Molewa

Deputy Minister of Social Development – Bathabile Dlamini

26. Minister of Sport and Recreation – Makhenkesi Stofile

Deputy Minister of Sport and Recreation – Gert Oosthuizen

27. Minister of State Security – Siyabonga Cwele

28. Minister in The Presidency (1) – National Planning Commission – Trevor Manuel

29. Minister in The Presidency (2) – Performance Monitoring and Evaluation as well as Administration in the Presidency – Collins Chabane

30. Minister of Tourism – Marthinus van Schalkwyk

Deputy Minister of Tourism – Thozile Xasa

31. Minister of Trade and Industry – Rob Davies

Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry (1) – Thandi Tobias

Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry (2) – Maria Ntuli

32. Minister of Transport – Sbusiso Joel Ndebele

Deputy Minister of Transport – Jeremy Cronin

33. Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs – Buyelwa Sonjica

Deputy Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs – Rejoice Mabhudafhasi

34. Minister of Women, Youth, Children and People with Disabilities
Noluthando Mayende-Sibiya

Popularity: 8% [?]

I caught this link on Twitter just now, I think from GrantNash (of 5FM fame) and RiccWebb (of RiccWebb fame!). I don’t think the video is insulting. I think it’s absolutely hilarious in fact.

Popularity: 8% [?]

President Zuma (I think it’s fair and necessary to address him as such) put on a great display in his inaugural speech. He thanked Mandela, Motlanthe and others at length. He spoke calmly and with a very steadying tone to his voice.

I am not convinced that he wrote his speech himself and I am most certainly sure that he is not an orator of Obama’s calibre, but nevertheless I was relatively impressed by Zuma.

And below is his Oath:

Popularity: 4% [?]

This is not a new news story. In fact I have read it and debated it before on blogs and around the dinner table. But I think that the question needs to be asked, does SA in fact need a leader like Ex-Australian Prime Minister John Howard?

Read this – straight from the horses mouth:

Muslims who want to live under Islamic Sharia law were told on Wednesday to get out of Australia , as the government targeted radicals in a bid to head off potential terror attacks.

Separately, Howard angered some Australian Muslims on Wednesday by saying he supported spy agencies monitoring the nation’s mosques. Quote: ‘IMMIGRANTS, NOT AUSTRALIANS, MUST ADAPT. Take It Or Leave It. I am tired of this nation worrying about whether we are offending some individual or their culture. Since the terrorist attacks on Bali , we have experienced a surge in pa triotism by the majority of Australians.’

‘This culture has been developed over two centuries of struggles, trials and victories by millions of men and women who have sought freedom’.

‘We speak mainly ENGLISH; not Spanish, Lebanese, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, or any other language. Therefore, if you wish to become part of our society. Learn the language!’

‘Most Australians believe in God. This is not some Christian, right wing, political push, but a fact, because Christian men and women, on Christian principles, founded this nation, and this is clearly documented. It is certainly appropriate to display it on the walls of our schools. If God offends you, then I suggest you consider another part of the world as your new home, because God is part of our culture.’

‘We will accept your beliefs, and will not question why. All we ask is that you accept ours, and live in harmony and peaceful enjoyment with us.’

‘This is OUR COUNTRY, OUR LAND, and OUR LIFESTYLE, and we will allow you every opportunity to enjoy all this. But once you are done complaining, whining, and griping about Our Flag, Our Pledge, Our Christian beliefs, or Our Way of Life, I highly encourage you take advantage of one other g reat Australian freedom,
‘THE RIGHT TO LEAVE’.’

‘If you aren’t happy here then LEAVE. We didn’t force you to come here. You asked to be here. So accept the country YOU accepted.’

I don’t think the same principals apply here that apply in Australia. We are different nations with different principals and outlooks. We are diverse and accepting of the fact that the country is diverse. We have eleven national anthems to prove it. I can’t decide if this is the right approach.

What do you think?

Ed: This was emailed to me ages back and I re-received it today. Thanks to Bryan for keeping me on my game!

Popularity: 7% [?]

I had an interesting debate with some friends a few days back. Out of five of us present, four of us had met Nelson Mandela.

I am really interested to find out how many people i know, or read this blog or know of who have met Madiba.

Personally I have met the incredible man 5 times and said a speech in front of and for him and 4000 people. That was a wonderful achievement for me.

There are people around the world whose last wish is to meet the man and I have. Have you?

Popularity: 11% [?]

This is my drive for ’08.

Being on holiday this December I was often asked about my opinion on the whole “Zuma thing”. Zuma thing, hmmm is it a “thing”, methinks not. Anyways, it’s as if working at Financial Mail allows me some air of opinion about topics relating to politics and finances.

So I’ve been asked about South Africa alot and politics alot and the state of the nation, ALOT. I need to have an opinion, especially being the “SA Rocks guy”. And I do have an opinion.

Mainly my opinion does not focus on Zuma at all. And I think that this is a major flaw in many people’s approach to SA and politics in this country.

What can you recall about SA politics in ’07? Let me take a stab at your answer: the ANC. Now keeping in mind that any publicity is good publicity I would like to propose that when it comes to voting in ’09 many people will have one party on their minds, you guessed it, the ANC.

So basically my opinion for the country and for ’08/’09 is voter education and marketing. I think that parties need to market themselves correctly (Helen and the DA did this fairly well in ’07 with the videos and vlogging and things) and educate voters correctly too. I understand the clear and present dangers between education and marketing and the two become blurred.

But I maintain that one of the largest problems is that the general populace needs to know who they can vote for, what the parties stand for, where they can vote and most importantly why your vote counts.

Popularity: 2% [?]

I did not see this coming, I did not expect this at all and I am honestly very disappointed in Tokyo.

I am pretty sure that there is a very strong (political and financial) reason for Sexwale backing the man they call J.Z. But nevertheless I am still a bit disappointed.

The Times conducted an interview with Sexwale and I must say that I expected more from the questions and was left wanting. I wanted probing, deep, inquisitive questions that put Sexwale on the line, but got fluffy journalism.

Nonetheless it’s interesting to hear the man talk so let’s have a look at the video:

Popularity: 2% [?]