President Jacob Zuma today named Siphiwe Nyanda as the new minister of communications. The new deputy minister of communications is Dina Pule.<\/p>\n
Nyanda, who was born in 1950, has a very strong military background and joined the military wing of the ANC – Umkhonto weSizwe – in 1974. He was a prominent struggle figure in the ANC, and was appointed Umkhonto weSizwe Chief of Staff in 1992.<\/p>\n
Nyanda became the Chief of the South African Defence National Force Staff in 1994 after Umkhonto weSizwe was integrated into the South African National Defence Force (SANDF). In 1997 he became the General Officer Commanding Gauteng Command (1996-1997) and was appointed Deputy Chief of the SANDF soon afterwards. In 1998 he was appointed the Chief of the SANDF, a post which he held until his current cabinet post.<\/p>\n
Nyanda matriculated from Orlando High School in Soweto in 1969 and started a BSc degree at the University of Zululand, but was expelled in his second year due to his political activities. <\/p>\n
ANC National Executive Committee member Dina Pule was named deputy minister of communications. Pule previously served as the Mpumalanga Agriculture and Land Administration MEC and the Mpumalanga MEC for Safety and Security.<\/p>\n
Siphiwe Nyanda takes over from acting communications minister Dr. Manto Tshabalala-Msimang while Dina Pule replaces Roy Padayachie.<\/p>\n