Ngoako Ramatlhodi (born 21 August 1955), a senior member of the African National Congress, was South Africa's Minister of Public Service and Administration from 2015[1][2] to March 2017. In the first Zuma administration he had been an MP and a controversial member of the Judicial Service Commission. He resigned as MP in 2017.[3]

Ngoako Ramatlhodi
1st Premier of Limpopo
In office
10 May 1994 – 22 April 2004
Deputy Minister of Correctional Services
In office
1 November 2010 – 25 May 2014
PresidentJacob Zuma
Minister of Mineral Resources
In office
25 May 2014 – 23 September 2015
PresidentJacob Zuma
Minister of Public Service and Administration
In office
23 September 2015 – 31 March 2017
PresidentJacob Zuma
DeputyGodfrey Oliphant
Preceded bySusan Shabangu
Succeeded byMosebenzi Zwane
Personal details
Born (1955-08-21) 21 August 1955 (age 69)
Northern Transvaal, South Africa
Political partyAfrican National Congress

Up to 2015 he was Minister of Mineral Resources. Ramatlhodi claimed in 2017 that Eskom chairperson Ben Ngubane and chief executive Brian Molefe requested that he terminate Glencor's mining licenses in an apparent ruse to facilitate the sale of its Optimum coal mine to the Gupta family.[3][4] He was assigned to his subsequent ministerial post after he supposedly did not comply.

He was axed in the cabinet reshuffle of March 2017, allegedly without being given reasons.[5] His position was taken by a known Zuma ally, the then Free State economic development MEC Mosebenzi Zwane. In the same reshuffle, finance minister Pravin Gordhan and his deputy, Mcebisi Jonas, were also replaced.

References

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  1. ^ "Who's Who SA: Ngoako Ramatlhodi". Archived from the original on 25 August 2017.
  2. ^ "Biographical Notes: Minister Ngoako Ramatlhodi". Department of Mineral Resources.
  3. ^ a b Staff reporter (16 May 2017). "Former mining minister says Brian Molefe helped Guptas 'capture' Optimum coal mine". Mail & Guardian. Retrieved 24 August 2017.
  4. ^ Staff writer (16 May 2017). "Brian Molefe helped the Guptas 'hijack a mine', says Ngoako Ramatlhodi". BusinessDay. Retrieved 26 August 2017.
  5. ^ Citizen reporter (31 March 2017). "I'm relieved to be out of Zuma's Cabinet, says Ngoako Ramatlhodi". The Citizen. Retrieved 24 August 2017.