SA lands minister moved in reshuffle

JOHANNESBURG – South African President Thabo Mbeki has appointed a new agriculture and lands minister in a cabinet reshuffle prompted by the death of a senior cabinet member, the presidency said yesterday.

Mbeki appointed Lulama Xingwana new agriculture and land affairs minister, replacing the highly regarded Thoko Didiza, who he moved to public works to fill the void left by the death this month of Stella Sigcau. Xingwana was promoted from her previous post of deputy minerals and energy minister.An analyst said Didiza, often named as an outsider in the race to succeed Mbeki when he steps down at the end of his second term in 2009, had been handed a high profile task ahead of the 2010 soccer World Cup in South Africa.In the reshuffle Minerals and Energy Minister Lindiwe Hendricks was transferred to water affairs and forestry, swapping places with the minister there, Buyelwa Sonjica.- Nampa-ReutersXingwana was promoted from her previous post of deputy minerals and energy minister.An analyst said Didiza, often named as an outsider in the race to succeed Mbeki when he steps down at the end of his second term in 2009, had been handed a high profile task ahead of the 2010 soccer World Cup in South Africa.In the reshuffle Minerals and Energy Minister Lindiwe Hendricks was transferred to water affairs and forestry, swapping places with the minister there, Buyelwa Sonjica.- Nampa-Reuters