Minister of Water and Sanitation (South Africa)

South Africa
Minister of Water and Sanitation
since 30 June 2024
Department of Water and Sanitation
StyleThe Honourable
AppointerPresident of South Africa
Inaugural holderErnest George Jansen
Formation1928
DeputyDavid Mahlobo (ANC)
Sello Seitlholo (DA)
WebsiteDepartment of Water and Sanitation

The Minister of Water and Sanitation is a minister in the Cabinet of South Africa. The minister has political responsibility for the Department of Water and Sanitation. The office in its current form was re-established in August 2021; it formerly existed between May 2014 and May 2019.

During other periods, the water affairs portfolio was conjoined with other portfolios, including under the Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry from 1994 to 2009, under the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs from 2009 to 2014, and, most recently, under the Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation from 2019 to 2021.

Post-apartheid history

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Between 1994 and 2009, the water affairs portfolio was conjoined with the forestry portfolio under the Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry.[1] When he announced his first cabinet on 10 May 2009, President Jacob Zuma severed those portfolios and conjoined water affairs with the environment portfolio instead, creating the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs (while forestry moved to the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries).[2]

With the appointment of Zuma's second cabinet on 25 May 2014, the Water and Environmental Affairs portfolio was bifurcated, and a dedicated Ministry of Water and Sanitation was established.[3] However, on 29 May 2019, Zuma's successor, President Cyril Ramaphosa, conjoined the Department of Water and Sanitation with the Department of Human Settlements, creating the Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation in his second cabinet.[4] This merger was short-lived: during a cabinet reshuffle on 5 August 2021, Ramaphosa announced that the Ministry of Water and Sanitation would be re-established as an independent ministry under Minister Senzo Mchunu.[5]

List of ministers

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List of ministers responsible for water affairs, 1994–present
Portfolio Name Term Party
Water Affairs and Forestry Kader Asmal 1994 1999 ANC
Ronnie Kasrils 1999 2004 ANC
Buyelwa Sonjica 2004 2006 ANC
Lindiwe Hendricks 2006 2009 ANC
Water and Environmental Affairs Buyelwa Sonjica 2009 2010 ANC
Edna Molewa 2010 2014 ANC
Water and Sanitation Nomvula Mokonyane 2014 2018 ANC
Gugile Nkwinti 2018 2019 ANC
Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation Lindiwe Sisulu 2019 2021 ANC
Water and Sanitation Senzo Mchunu 2021 2024 ANC
Pemmy Majodina 2024 Incumbent ANC

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Burger, Delien (ed.). Pocket Guide to South Africa 2008/2009 (6th ed.). Government Communication and Information System. pp. 36–37. ISBN 978-0-621-38413-0.
  2. ^ "Statement by President Jacob Zuma on the appointment of the new Cabinet" (Press release). Government Communication and Information System. 10 May 2009. Archived from the original on 13 May 2009. Retrieved 1 April 2011.
  3. ^ "President Jacob Zuma announces members of the National Executive". Government Communication and Information System. 25 May 2014. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
  4. ^ "In full: Cyril Ramaphosa's new cabinet, in his own words". Sunday Times. 28 June 2019. Retrieved 28 June 2019.
  5. ^ Tandwa, Lizeka (5 August 2021). "Markets react as Mboweni steps down in Ramaphosa cabinet reshuffle". The Mail & Guardian. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
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