Pretoria – Newly appointed mineral resources minister Mosebenzi Joseph Zwane on Wednesday said he understood the difficulties facing the struggling South African mining sector and was ready to tackle the challenge head-on.
“I have been dealing with challenges throughout my life,” Zwane told reporters at the Union Buildings in Pretoria shortly after being sworn in.
The minister assured those that did not know his background that he had not risen out of nowhere, but had worked his way up through the ranks.
“I believe, with the support of all South Africans and the department, we should be able to tackle the issues affecting this department,” Zwane said.
Asked about his plan of action as he enters a sector riddled with recurrent violent strikes, the threat of massive job losses, and a global commodity-price slump, Mosebenzi Zwane said he needed time.
“In terms of plans, I’m sure we will all agree that you will have to give me some chance to settle, to look at what the department has and how we move forward. We will not just come in and (make) change(s) willy-nilly. What is there and we agree it is good, we will move forward with it and ensure we reach our destination on time,” he said.
Zwane said he would spell out his programme of action to the media “in a month or so”.
Some economists have criticized Zwane’s appointment to the vital mineral resources department, citing his lack of experience in the highly volatile sector.
In a very short ceremony presided over by President Jacob Zuma on Wednesday afternoon, Mosebenzi was sworn into office by Constitutional Court Judge Johann van der Westhuizen.
A few of Zwane’s relatives were in the room.
On Tuesday night, Zuma reshuffled his cabinet slightly, announcing Ngoako Ramatlhodi as new public service and administration minister.
Ramatlhodi was shifted from his post as mineral resources minister, a position which now occupied by Zwane, an ANC MP.
The post of public service and administration minister became vacant when Collins Chabane died in a car accident in March.
Zwane previously served as an MEC in various portfolios, including agriculture and rural development, and economic development, tourism and environmental affairs in the Free State provincial government.
ANA