Cabinet of Nelson Mandela

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Government of National Unity
1st Cabinet of Republic of South Africa (since 1994 democratic elections)
1994–1999
Nelson Mandela (1994)
Date formed	10 May 1994 (1994-05-10)
Date dissolved	14 June 1999 (1999-06-14)
People and organisations
Head of government	President Nelson Mandela
Status in legislature	Majority
Opposition party	Freedom Front (1994–96) National Party (1996–97) New National Party (from 1997)
Opposition leader	Constand Viljoen (1994–96) F. W. de Klerk (1996–97) Marthinus van Schalkwyk (from 1997)
History
Election(s)	1994
Legislature term(s)	5 years, 1 month and 4 days
Predecessor	De Klerk (TEC)
Successor	Mbeki I

Nelson Mandela took the oath as President of South Africa on 10 May 1994 and announced a Government of National Unity on 11 May 1994.^[1] The cabinet included members of Mandela's African National Congress, National Party and Inkatha Freedom Party, as it was required under the terms of the Clause 88 of the Interim Constitution of South Africa that all parties winning more than 20 seats in National Assembly be given representation in the cabinet.

Background[]

In the election of 27 April 1994, the African National Congress obtained the majority of seats in the National Assembly, and thus could form the government on its own. The two chief parties who made use of the provision for a GNU were the National Party and the Inkatha Freedom Party, both of which obtained cabinet portfolios for their leaders and other members of parliament. President Nelson Mandela also invited other parties to join the cabinet, even though they did not obtain the minimum twenty seats in the National Assembly.

The aims of the GNU centred on correcting social and economic injustices left by the legacy of Apartheid. The main aim, however, was that of creating a final constitution. The constitution was essentially a two-step process. During the CODESA talks – started in 1991 – the NP (National Party) and ANC (African National Congress) agreed to create an interim constitution, which would be the basis for a final constitution. The final constitution was to be drawn up by the two chambers of parliament – the Senate and National Assembly.

However, it was important to the GNU that the opinions of ordinary South Africans be included into the constitution. From 1994 to 1996 the GNU organised large media campaigns. This was not easy, considering that they needed to reach 40 million people, most of whom were illiterate or didn't have television. Slogans such as "You’ve made your mark, now have your say" were used to gain public attention for the cause. Over 1.7 million written submissions were collected over the two years. These included opinions on matters ranging from the death penalty to abortion.

On 8 May 1996 the final Constitution was adopted by the National Assembly and one day later, second Deputy President of the Republic F. W. de Klerk announced the withdrawal of his National Party from the GNU, with effect from 30 June.

The requirement for the GNU lapsed at the end of the first Parliament in 1999. Even so, the Inkatha Freedom Party continued to hold seats in the government, as minority partners, until the elections of 2004.

Cabinet[]

Note: Opaque background indicates the member did not serve the full term of Mandela's cabinet.

Post		Minister	Image	Term		Party
	President	Nelson Mandela		1994	1999	ANC
	Deputy President	Thabo Mbeki		1994	1999	ANC
		F. W. de Klerk		1994	1996	NP
	Minister of Agriculture and Land Affairs (renamed in 1996)	Derek Hanekom MP		1994	1999	ANC
		Kraai van Niekerk MP		1994	1996	NP
	Minister of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology	Ben Ngubane MP		1994	1996	IFP
	Minister of Correctional Services	MP		1998	1999	IFP
		MP		1994	1998	IFP
	Minister of Defence	Joe Modise MP		1994	1999	ANC
	Minister of Education	Sibusiso Bengu MP		1994	1999	ANC
	Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism	Pallo Jordan MP		1996	1999	ANC
		Dawie de Villiers MP		1994	1996	NP
	Minister of Finance	Derek Keys MP		1994	1994	NP
		Chris Liebenberg MP		1994	1996
		Trevor Manuel MP		1996	1999	ANC
	Minister of Foreign Affairs	Alfred Nzo MP		1994	1999	ANC
	Minister of General Affairs	MP		1996	1999	ANC
	Minister of Health	Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma MP		1994	1999	ANC
	Minister of Home Affairs	Mangosuthu Buthelezi MP		1994	1999	IFP
	Minister of Housing	Joe Slovo MP		1994	1995 (died)	ANC
	Minister of Justice	Dullah Omar MP		1994	1999	ANC
	Minister of Labour	Tito Mboweni MP		1994	1999	ANC
		Penuell Maduna MP		1996	1999	ANC
		Pik Botha MP		1994	1996	NP
	Minister of Public Enterprises	Stella Sigcau MP		1994	1999	ANC
	Minister of Public Works	Jeff Radebe MP		1994	1999	ANC
	Minister of Social Affairs and Development	Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi MP		1996	1999	SACP/ANC
	Minister of Sport	Steve Tshwete MP		1994	1999	ANC
	Minister of Transport	Mac Maharaj MP		1994	1999	ANC
	Minister of Trade and Industry	Trevor Manuel MP		1994	1996	ANC
		Alec Erwin MP		1994	1996	ANC

Shuffle[]

Cabinet changes and reshuffles:

• Minister of Finance, Derek Keys, resigned in mid-1994 and was replaced by Chris Liebenberg^[2]
• Cabinet reshuffle in March / April 1996, following resignation of Chris Liebenberg
• Cabinet reshuffle in May 1996, taking effect 1 July 1996, upon the withdrawal of the National Party (NP) from the Cabinet^[3]
• Replacement of Bantu Holomisa as Deputy Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism by Peter Mokaba in August 1996.^[4]

See also[]

• History of the Cabinet of South Africa

References[]