By Dalena Reporters — Johannesburg, South Africa — 12 November 2025
In a key reshuffle aimed at restoring coalition balance, Cyril Ramaphosa, President of South Africa, announced on Wednesday evening the appointment of two senior ministers from the ruling coalition partner, the Democratic Alliance (DA). The move reflects the fragile dynamics of the multi-party government and the strategic importance of maintaining the DA’s representation in cabinet.
The presidential office issued a statement confirming that Willem Aucamp will assume the role of Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, replacing DA-colleague Dion George. Simultaneously, Alexandra Abrahams was appointed as one of two Deputy Ministers for Trade, Industry and Competition—a role that had remained vacant since June when the DA’s former deputy minister was dismissed for violating ministerial protocol.
These appointments bring the DA’s share of cabinet positions back to 12, the same number the party held at the genesis of the coalition in June last year. The DA has indicated that it requested the nominations and welcomed the reinstatement of its full representation.
The re-allocation comes amid signs of strain within the coalition government, with the DA increasingly demanding stronger representation and influence on policy direction. The trade deputy minister vacancy—left open since the jettisoning of Andrew Whitfield in June—was a visible sore point in relations between the DA and the governing African National Congress (ANC).
By restoring DA numbers in the cabinet, President Ramaphosa appears to be managing both political optics and governance stability, signalling that coalition cohesion remains a priority in his administration. For the DA, the appointments are both symbolic and practical—they reinforce the party’s influence and ensure access to strategic portfolios.
With Aucamp taking charge of environmental, fisheries and forestry policy, the portfolio now falls to a DA minister poised to shape South Africa’s approach to ecological management, renewable policy, and natural-resource governance. Given global pressure on South Africa’s just-energy transition and climate commitments, the choice carries significance beyond domestic politics.
Meanwhile, Abrahams’ role as deputy trade minister places the DA once again in a central position in economic policy and international trade negotiations. Given South Africa’s current economic pressures—ranging from investment shortfalls to structural reforms—the trade portfolio is strategic for both government performance and party visibility.
While the immediate effect is to placate coalition tensions, the long-term test will be how effectively the new ministers translate appointment into policy delivery. The ANC-DA partnership remains delicate in a landscape defined by economic challenge, social demand, and heightened expectation for accountability. Observers will watch whether this move strengthens governance or simply postpones deeper friction.
In the short term, the reshuffle signals that President Ramaphosa is prepared to adjust the balance of power in his cabinet in order to preserve the coalition’s unity. For the DA, the appointments are a victory—but also a renewed responsibility to perform.
Dalena Reporters — Where facts meet clarity and consequence.