Cape Town — President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced that Maropene Ramokgopa will be the acting Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture until a permanent is appointed.
Ramokgopa, who is the current Minister for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, will take on the temporary role following the departure of African National Congress (ANC) member, Zizi Kodwa this week, who tendered his resignation to Ramaphosa on Wednesday after serving as the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture for just over a year.
“President Ramaphosa has appointed Minister Maropene Ramokgopa to act as Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture until a permanent appointment is made under the new seventh administration,” the Presidency said in a statement on Friday.
President @CyrilRamaphosa has appointed Minister Maropene Ramokgopa to act as Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture until a permanent appointment is made under the new 7th administration. https://t.co/hVkvxkZbKv
— The Presidency 🇿🇦 (@PresidencyZA) June 7, 2024
The Citizen reported that Kodwa was arrested earlier this week on charges of corruption at the Palm Ridge Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on Wednesday, along with his co-accused, Jehan Mackay.
Kodwa resigned as a member of ANC’s National Working Committee (NWC) and National Executive Committee (NEC) but remains on the party’s national candidate list. ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula clarified that Kodwa remains a member of the ANC as he has not resigned from the party.
“Zizi [Kodwa] has indeed stepped aside due to the issues that he is facing. He has done that voluntarily informed by the policy of the ANC. He was not forced to do it.” Mbalula said.
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Compiled by Matthew Petersen
