In a move that will surprise few, Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri has retained her position as minister of communications.
President Thabo Mbeki announced his new cabinet this afternoon and - while there were some shocks - like Mangosuthu Buthelezi not being given a cabinet post, and Manto Tshabalala-Msimang retaining her portfolio as minister of health, not much has really changed, although there is a new minister of Science and Technology.
The new minister is Mosibudi Mangena and his deputy is Derek Hanekom.
The president also announced that Matsepe-Casaburri will have a deputy minister, who has been named as Radhakrishna 'Ray` Padayachee.
It has been speculated in some parts of the telecoms industry that Matsepe-Casaburri will only be kept on as minister temporarily, being relieved of her post once the second national operator (SNO) saga has been resolved.
One could read into the fact that a deputy minister is also to be appointed, the possibility that the deputy will be groomed to take over from her, once the SNO process has been finalised.
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