| Cabinet Name: | Motlanthe Cabinet |
| Cabinet Number: | 4th |
| Jurisdiction: | the Republic of South Africa (since the 1994 elections) |
| Flag: | Flag of South Africa.svg |
| Flag Border: | true |
| Incumbent: | 2008–2009 |
| Date Dissolved: | |
| Government Head Title: | President |
| Government Head: | Kgalema Motlanthe |
| Deputy Government Head Title: | Deputy President |
| Deputy Government Head: | Baleka Mbete |
| Members Number: | 28 ministers |
| Political Party: | |
| Legislature Status: | Majority |
| Opposition Party: | Democratic Alliance |
| Opposition Leader: | Sandra Botha |
| Election: | 2004 election |
| Legislature Term: | Third Parliament |
| Previous: | Mbeki II |
| Successor: | Zuma I |
The cabinet of Kgalema Motlanthe was the cabinet of the government of South Africa between 25 September 2008 and 9 May 2009. It was constituted by Motlanthe after his election on 24 September and served until after the April 2009 general election. It replaced the cabinet of former President Thabo Mbeki, who had resigned from office at the instruction of his political party.
On 25 September 2008, the day after Thabo Mbeki's resignation, Kgalema Motlanthe was indirectly elected as the third President of South Africa.[1] He was inaugurated as president later the same day, and he announced his new cabinet during his inauguration speech.[2] [3] Because he was expected to serve only until the 2009 general election, Motlanthe's cabinet was widely referred to as a caretaker government.[4]
Motlanthe retained many of the ministers who had served in Mbeki's cabinet, but Mbeki's departure had precipitated a wave of ministerial resignations that necessitated new appointments.[5] Baleka Mbete was newly appointed as Deputy President of South Africa, replacing Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, and seven new ministers joined the cabinet.[6] Four replaced ministers who had resigned: Richard Baloyi replaced Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi, Siyabonga Cwele replaced Ronnie Kasrils, Sicelo Shiceka replaced Sydney Mufamadi, and Geoff Doidge replaced Thoko Didiza. Three other new ministers – Barbara Hogan, Nathi Mthethwa, and Enver Surty – replaced ministers who were reassigned to new portfolios in order to compensate for additional resignations. The reassigned ministers were Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, Charles Nqakula, and Brigitte Mabandla, who replaced, respectively, Essop Pahad, Mosiuoa Lekota, and Alec Erwin. Tshabalala-Msimang's departure from the Ministry of Health received international attention because of her notorious mishandling of the HIV/AIDS epidemic.[7]
During his seven-month presidency, Motlanthe did not effect any cabinet reshuffles. Minister Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri died on 6 April 2009, a fortnight before the general election, and Minister Tshabalala-Msimang took over her Communications portfolio in an acting capacity.[8]
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Although deputy ministers are not members of the South African Cabinet, they are appointed by the president and assist cabinet ministers in the execution of their duties. Motlanthe's deputy ministers were, like his ministers, appointed on 25 September 2008. Motlanthe appointed only two new deputy ministers on 25 September: Molefi Sefularo, to fill a longstanding vacancy in the office of the Deputy Minister of Health, and Fezile Bhengu, to replace Mluleki George as Deputy Minister of Defence.
After a short delay, on 5 November he appointed Nhlanhla Nene to the position of Deputy Minister of Finance, which had been vacated by Jabu Moleketi's resignation in September.[9] On the same day, he appointed André Gaum to the vacant position of Deputy Minister of Education (held by Minister Surty until September) and created a new position of third Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for Fatima Hajaig.[10] Motlanthe did not appoint deputy ministers in the Ministries of Housing, Intelligence, Labour, Minerals and Energy, Public Enterprises, Public Service and Administration, Transport, or Water Affairs, nor did he appoint a deputy minister in the Presidency.[11]
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