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Cape Town - President Jacob Zuma said on Sunday he configured his cabinet to include a ministry of telecommunications and postal services as well as a ministry for small business development.
"Our country has a fast growing telecommunications sector which in 2012 was estimated at being worth R180bn."The aim of the new ministry was to get more value out of the telecommunications sector, he said.
The communications department had been reconfigured to include more functions.
"We have established a new communications ministry which will be responsible for overarching communication policy and strategy, information dissemination and publicity, as well as the branding of the country abroad," Zuma announced.
"This ministry will be formed out of the following components: the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa, the SA Broadcasting Corporation, Government Communication and Information Systems, Brand SA and the Media Development and Diversity Agency."
Dr Siyabonga Cwele has been appointed minister of telecommunications and postal services, with Hlengiwe Mkhize his deputy.
Zuma also announced that the National Planning Commission and the ministry of performance, monitoring and evaluation will be merged.
"This ministry will also continue to be responsible for youth development."
To boost small business development as a critical part of the economy, Zuma announced the formation of the first ministry of small business development, which is headed by two women: Lindiwe Zulu the minister and Elizabeth Thabethe her deputy.
"You will recall that we stated in the inauguration address that the economy will take centre-stage.
"The development of the small business sector is critical to economic development and transformation," he said.
