Mandela's Coalition Government Takes Shape: A Cabinet of Unity and Diversity

Strategic Insights -

President Nelson Mandela's Cabinet, completed today in Pretoria, brings together an eclectic mix of personalities and backgrounds, reflecting the country's diverse political landscape. The 27-member Cabinet is divided among parties that earned more than 5 percent in the election, with the African National Congress (ANC) entitled to 18, the National Party earning 6, and Inkatha having 3. This unique coalition will face challenges in governing by consensus, as exemplified by the tensions between Chief Mangosuthu G. Buthelezi's Inkatha Freedom Party and the ANC.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Cabinet includes 27 ministers, divided among 3 parties: ANC (18), National Party (6), and Inkatha (3).
  • Chief Mangosuthu G. Buthelezi, leader of Inkatha, accepted the position of Minister of Home Affairs, overseeing elections, including the disputed KwaZulu/Natal election.
  • Winnie Mandela, Mrs. Nelson Mandela, was appointed Deputy Minister of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology, marking her return to public life after her kidnapping conviction in 1992.
  • The new Cabinet features veterans of the outgoing white Government, such as Minister of Minerals and Mining Roelof F. Botha and Minister of Finance Derek Keys.
  • Former ANC general secretary Alfred Nzo was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs, a surprising choice given his departure from the leadership in 1991.
  • Joe Modise, commander of the ANC's guerrilla army, became Minister of Defense, despite being faulted for failing to curb torture in guerrilla camps during the 1980s.
  • The Cabinet also includes two deputy presidents, Thabo Mbeki and F.W. de Klerk, and includes a mix of prominent figures, including Joe Slovo, Jay Naidoo, and Dullah Omar.

Statistics:

  • The Cabinet includes 27 members, divided among the 3 parties: ANC (18), National Party (6), and Inkatha (3).
  • Chief Buthelezi's Inkatha Freedom Party was assigned the Ministry of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology, and the Ministry of Correctional Services.
  • The Cabinet includes 18 African National Congress figures, 6 from the National Party, and 3 from Inkatha.
  • The African National Congress figures in the Cabinet include 2 from KwaZulu/Natal, marking significant representation from the province.

Sources:

  • The New York Times (1994)
  • The Washington Post (1994)
  • The Times (1994)