Women This Week: Gender-Balanced Government – CFR

Gender-Balanced Cabinet Appointed in South Africa

Last week, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa announced his new cabinet, appointing women to head half of the ministries for the first time in history. South Africa joins 10 countries which have achieved gender parity in government cabinets worldwide, including most recently Ethiopia and Rwanda.

Many of the new women ministers are familiar faces in South African politics, including Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma—a former Minister of Health, Foreign Affairs, and Home Affairs—now leading cooperative governance and traditional affairs, opposition politician Patricia de Lille heading public works and infrastructure, and former parliamentary chairwoman Thoko Didiza overseeing public lands and agriculture.