Gugile Nkwinti has been appointed the new Minister of Water and Sanitation in President Cyril Ramaphosa’s highly anticipated cabinet reshuffle. 

Nkwinti was reassigned together with several other members of the national executive, in an announcement by the president on Monday evening.

According to the president the changes are intended to ensure that national government is better equipped to implement the mandate of this administration and specifically the tasks identified in the State of the Nation Address.

Who is Gugile Nkwinti?

Nkwinti, who will be replacing Nomvula Mokonyane, previously held the post of Minister of Rural Development and Land Reform.

He holds a Master’s degree in Public Policy and Management from the University of London and a Bachelor of Administration degree specialising in Political Science, Public Administration and Applied Economics from the University of South Africa.

Prior to his appointment as a Minister of Land Reform he was Speaker of the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature from 1994 to 1999; MEC for Housing from 1999 to 2005; and MEC for Agriculture Eastern Cape from 2005 to 2009.

Controversy

Nkwinti has come under the spotlight in the last year for his alleged involvement in a questionable land deal.

According to media reports early last year, the minister allegedly received R2 million for brokering a lease deal for the Bekendvlei Farm, which was bought for R97 million by the department and handed over to long-time Luthuli House employee Errol Velile Present and his partner businessman Moses Boshomane to manage.