South Africa’s official opposition Democratic Alliance has announced a reshuffle of four key posts in its shadow cabinet, including the shifting of fiery health spokesperson Dianne Kohler-Barnard to the safety and security portfolio.
Kohler-Barnard, a former South African Broadcasting Corporation journalist who was elected to Parliament in 2004, takes over from Free State MP Roy Jankielsohn to face her African National Congress counterpart, Minister of Safety and Security Charles Nqakula.
Kohler-Barnard has developed the reputation of a tough opponent of Minister of Health Manto Tshabalala-Msimang in the year she has held the health portfolio.
Jankielsohn, meanwhile, moves to the defence portfolio — to face Minister of Defence Mosioua Lekota — while Rafeek Shah, from the KwaZulu-Natal, moves from defence to environmental affairs to take on Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism Marthinus van Schalkwyk.
Gareth Morgan, who like Kohler-Barnard hails from KwaZulu-Natal, replaces Kohler-Barnard in the health portfolio. He previously held environmental affairs.
Other key portfolios remain the same, including finance, which is retained by Gauteng MP and former Johannesburg city council exco chairperson Ian Davidson.
Trade and industry is retained by Western Cape MP Pierre Rabie while former United Democratic Movement MP Martin Stephens, who defected to the DA last year, retains public enterprises.
The announcement was made by chief whip Douglas Gibson on Monday. — I-Net Bridge