Statement by Helen Zille, Premier of the Western Cape

It is with great pleasure that I announce today a cabinet reshuffle, which has been necessitated by the election of the former Minister for Social Development, Ms Patricia de Lille, as the Executive Mayor of the City of Cape Town.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Ms de Lille for her dedication and exceptional achievements in the short period she served as the Minister for Social Development. I have every confidence that she will fulfil her role as Executive Mayor of Cape Town with great distinction.

As a result of Ms de Lille's election, I have made two changes to the Provincial Cabinet.

First, Mr Albert Fritz, the current Minister for Community Safety, will become the Minister for Social Development to succeed Ms de Lille. Minister Fritz has done an excellent job in his tenure at Community Safety. He will bring the same vigour, diligence and determination to his new portfolio.

Second, I am pleased to welcome former Executive Mayor of the City of Cape Town, Alderman Dan Plato, to the Western Cape Provincial Government. He will become the new Minister for Community Safety. I am confident that he will make a major contribution, not only to the Community Safety portfolio, but to the Provincial Cabinet as a whole. His specific skills in building partnerships will be extremely valuable as we implement our new approach to extending community safety.

I am confident that these changes will make our cabinet an even stronger team and I look forward to continue working with all the Ministers in serving the citizens of the Western Cape.

Statement issued by Western Cape Premier, Helen Zille, May 30 2011

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