PRETORIA: South Africa’s new cabinet for the first time in the country’s history will have half of its strength filled with women. President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the move on Wednesday. “For the first time in the history of our country, half of all the ministers are women,” Ramaphosa told it in a televised press conference. The decision is aimed at creating a line of leaders that would advance the country’s future.

Xolani Dube, a political analyst from the Xubera Institute of Research and Development based in Durban, analyzed the president’s decision. He said, ‘It is commendable for governments to strive for gender balance, political appointments should be based on merit and performance.’ (Agencies)