The newly created Science and Technology Department, announced yesterday by President Thabo Mbeki, is raring to go after the appointment of its first minister, Mosibudi Mangena.
Mbeki said during the announcement of his cabinet this week that the Science and Technology Department will now be a department on its own, split from the former Department of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology. Former member of Parliament Pallo Jordan is the new minister of arts and culture.
The first step to forming the new department occurred two years ago when minister Ben Ngubane, who originally headed the combined department, appointed a separate director-general for science and technology.
Mangena is the president of the Azanian People`s Organisation (Azapo). He has been serving as deputy minister to former education minister Kader Asmal since 2001.
He will be assisted by former land affairs deputy minister Derek Hanekom, who has been appointed as his deputy.
"The department is excited about the announcement and the separation of the ministry of science and technology from arts and culture," the department said in a statement released today.
Mangena was one of the two ministers appointed by the president from outside the National Assembly. The Constitution gives the president of the country the power to appoint two members for the cabinet, who are not members of the National Assembly.
Born in Tzaneen, Mangena holds a Master`s Degree in Applied Mathematics from the University of South Africa.
Along with the rest of the cabinet, he will be sworn in today.
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