Minister of Social Development (South Africa)

South Africa
Minister of Social Development
Incumbent
Dina Pule
since 01 July 2026
Department of Social Development
StyleThe Honourable
Member ofCabinet
AppointerPresident of South Africa
Inaugural holderZola Skweyiya
Formation17 June 1999 (17 June 1999)
DeputyGanief Hendricks
WebsiteDepartment of Social Development

The minister of social development is a minister in the Cabinet of South Africa who is the political head of the Department of Social Development and its agencies, including the South African Social Security Agency. As of 1 July 2026, the incumbent minister is DIna Pule, following the dismissal of Sisisi Tolashe in May 2026.[1][2] The deputy minister is Ganief Hendricks.[3]

The ministry was created in June 1999 when Thabo Mbeki took office as President of South Africa in the 1999 general election. Its precursor in the cabinet of Nelson Mandela was the Ministry for Welfare and Population Development, where Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi was incumbent from June 1996 to June 1999.[4]

List of ministers

Minister Term President Ref.
The Hon. Zola Skweyiya MP 17 June 1999 10 May 2009

Mbeki (I)

Mbeki (II)

Motlanthe (I)

[5]
The Hon. Edna Molewa MP 11 May 2009 31 October 2010 Zuma (I) [6]
The Hon. Bathabile Dlamini MP 1 November 2010 26 February 2018 [7]
Zuma (II) [8]
The Hon. Susan Shabangu MP 27 February 2018 29 May 2019 Ramaphosa (I) [9]
The Hon. Lindiwe Zulu MP 30 May 2019 17 June 2024 Ramaphosa (II) [3]
The Hon. Sisisi Tolashe MP 30 June 2024 14 May 2026 Ramaphosa (III) [10]
The Hon. Dina Pule MP 1 July 2026 present [1]

References

  1. 1 2 "President Ramaphosa announces changes to the National Executive | The Presidency". www.thepresidency.gov.za. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
  2. ↑ Moichela, Kamogelo; Majadibodu, Simon (14 May 2026). "Ramaphosa bows to pressure, fires Social Development Minister Sisisi Tolashe". IOL. Retrieved 14 May 2026.
  3. 1 2 Mahlati, Zintle (29 May 2019). "Ramaphosa announces his new Cabinet". IOL. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
  4. ↑ "Geraldine Joslyn Fraser-Moleketi, Ms". South African Government. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
  5. ↑ "Zola Sidney Themba Skweyiya, Dr". South African Government. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
  6. ↑ "Bomo Edna Molewa, Ms". South African Government. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
  7. ↑ "Zuma announces cabinet reshuffle". IOL. 31 October 2010. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
  8. ↑ "Bathabile Olive Dlamini, Ms". South African Government. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
  9. ↑ "New deputy president, finance minister announced in major Cabinet reshuffle". The Mail & Guardian. 26 February 2018. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
  10. ↑ "Cyril Ramaphosa announces new cabinet, John Steenhuisen is Minister of Agriculture". IOL. 30 June 2024. Retrieved 1 July 2024.