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Pretoria - President Thabo Mbeki announces that Dr Ben Ngubane will leave his position as Minister of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology as of today (Monday, February 2, 2004). Minister Ngubane will join the diplomatic service.

The President has decided to assign Minister Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka the additional responsibility of the Ministry of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology with immediate effect. She will remain in her position as Minister of Minerals and Energy Affairs. President Mbeki said he had no doubt that she would execute this additional task with the same diligence she had shown at Minerals and Energy.

The President expressed his warm gratitude to Dr Ngubane for having distinguished himself as an outstanding minister since his appointment. Dr Ngubane had displayed his leadership acumen by guiding his ministry successfully through a difficult process of transformation and restructuring. He had earned wide respect and support and had been an asset in executive governance.

Minister Ngubane was the first Minister of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology in democratic South Africa. He laid the foundations for the transformation of this ministry both in policy and legislative frameworks.

Internationally, he has positioned South Africa as a major and influential contributor to the development of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology.

He leaves behind a solid framework that will serve as the basis for engaging with the challenges of the next decade of freedom and democracy.

Enquiries:
Bheki Khumalo
Presidential Spokesperson/Chief Director: Communications
The Presidency
Tel: (012) 300 5436
Fax: (012) 323 6080
Cell: 083 256 9133

Issued by: The Presidency
2 February 2004