Mike Mabuyakhulu, who acted for KwaZulu-Natal’s late local government minister Dumisane Makhaye when he was ill, has been appointed to the post, the province said on Wednesday.
Mabuyakhulu was formerly the province’s minister of finance.
Makhaye died last month and was buried last weekend.
A provincial government statement further announced that Zweli Mkhize has taken Mabuyakhulu’s old post, having served as minister of health for the past 10 years.
Mkhize will, meanwhile, continue as the leader of government business in the legislature.
KwaZulu-Natal’s new minister of health will be Neliswa Peggie Nkonyeni, the government said.
National Minister of Health Manto Tshabalala-Msimang has congratulated Nkonyeni on her appointment.
”We would like to welcome Nkonyeni to the health sector. We are confident that she will build on the progress made by former MEC Dr Zweli Mkhize in improving health-care services in the province,” she said in a statement.
Nkonyeni is a qualified teacher.
Tshabalala-Msimang also congratulated Mkhize and Mabuyakhulu on their appointments.
She said Mkhize is the longest-serving provincial minister in the health sector. — Sapa