New Western Cape Premier, Lynne Brown has made several changes to the Provincial Cabinet. Brown announced the changes at a media briefing on Thursday, 31 July 2008. It comes in the wake of the forced resignation of former Premier, Ebrahim Rasool on Friday, 25 July 2008. Rasool’s departure sparked a lot of speculation about other changes in the Western Cape Cabinet. Environmental Affairs, Planning & Development MEC, Tasneem Essop followed Rasool – confirming her resignation shortly before Brown was sworn in. Other MEC’s who decided to hold on, have now been shown the door.
Ms Lynne Brown - Premier
Mr Marius Fransman – Minister for Health
Mr Patrick Mckenzie - Minister for Community Safety
Mr Pierre Uys – Minister for Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Planning
Mr Garth Strachan - Minister for Finance, Economic Development and Tourism
Mr Whitey Jacobs - Minister for Housing
Mr Kobus Dowry - Minister for Agriculture
Ms Kholeka Mqulwana – Minister for Transport and Public Works
Mr Yousuf Gabru - Minister for Education
Mr Cameron Dugmore - Minister for Cultural Affairs, Sport and Recreation.
Mrs Zodwa Magwaza - Minister for Social Development
Mr Ebrahim Rasool - Premier
Mr Marius Fransman - Minister for Transport and Public Works
Mr Leonard Ramatlakane - Minister for Community Safety
Mr Pierre Uys - Minister for Health
Ms Lynne Brown - Minister for Finance and Tourism
Mr Richard Dyantyi - Minister for Local Government and Housing
Ms Tasneem Essop - Minister for Environment, Planning and Economic Development
Mr Cobus Dowry - Minister for Agriculture
Ms Kholeka Mqulwana - Minister for Social Development
Mr Cameron Dugmore - Minister for Education
Mr Whitey Jacobs - Minister for Cultural Affairs, Sport and Recreation.
Western Cape Premier, Lynne Brown explains to Mike Wills what the thinking was behind the cabinet reshuffle
Freedom Front Plus Leader, Corné Mulder reacts to news of the Cabinet reshuffle
Independent Democrats spokesperson, Rodney Lentit on the new Cabinet
ACDP provincial leader, Pauline Cupido shares her thoughts on the new Cabinet
Lynne Brown, was born in Cape Town on the 26th of September 1961. She grew up in Mitchell's Plain on the Cape Flats. Brown is a qualified teacher and also completed a certificate in Gender Planning Methodology at the University College, London, in 1993.
She was the chairperson of the Mitchell's Plain Youth Congress in 1979 and was a member of the United Women’s Congress which later became the Western Cape branch of the ANC Women’s League. Brown was also involved with the United Democratic Front until its disbandment. She joined the ANC in 1987 and became a member of its Western Cape provincial executive and working committees in 1999.
Brown was elected to the Western Cape Legislature during the country’s first democratic elections in 1994. During her tenure she served as a member of various parliamentary committees, including health and welfare, education and culture. She also served terms as an ANC chief whip and speaker of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament. In 2000, she went up against Peter Marais as the ANC’s Mayoral candidate for Cape Town, but lost.
In May 2004, Brown was appointed Western Cape Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Tourism. Following a cabinet reshuffle in July 2005, her portfolio was refined to that of MEC for Finance and Tourism.
Brown was also elected to the ANC’s National Executive Committee at the party’s Polokwane conference in December last year.
According to the Western Cape Provincial Government website, her interests are playing golf, reading and an admiration of arts and culture.
The ANC has ended nearly two weeks of speculation about the future of Western Cape Premier, Ebrahim Rasool, announcing at a media briefing in Cape Town on Wednesday 23 July 2008 that Rasool is resigning, effective Friday 25 July 2008. Rasool’s future came under the spotlight two weeks’ prior to the party’s announcement – in the run up to an ANC National Executive Committee meeting. There was talk that the entire Western Cape Provincial Executive could be dissolved because of concerns at national level that years of infighting would ruin the ANC’s chances of winning the Western Cape in next year’s elections. Then speculation turned to Rasool. It would not be the first time; Rasool is a known Mbeki supporter. Following the Zuma camp’s emphatic victory at the Polokwane conference last December, there was already talk that he could be ousted because of his allegiance.
Now that Rasool is officially bowing out, there is an overwhelming sense from both opposition parties and political observers that he’s been shown the door, not necessarily because of a failure to deliver, but because he’s been backing the wrong contender all along.
The Western Cape has had 5 Premiers in the last 14 years (not counting those in an acting capacity), and Lynne Brown will be the 6th person to move into Leeuwenhof – the official residence of the Province’s Premier. Of interest is that none of the Premiers to take office since 1994 have completed their terms.
Hernus Kriel (7 May 1994 – 11 May 1998) – Resigned amid internal wrangling within the ruling National Party
Gerald Morkel (11 May 1998 – 12 November 2001) – Resigned when he left the NNP to join the DA
Peter Marais (5 December 2001 – 3 June 2002) – Resigned amid claims of sexual harassment
Martinus Van Schalkwyk (21 June 2002 – 23 April 2004) – Became National Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism after the NNP merged with the ANC
Ebrahim Rasool (30 April 2004 – 25 July 2008) – Resigned after reports that the ANC was planning to oust him
Listen to Capetonian’s views on Ebrahim Rasool’s resignation.
New Western Cape Premier Lynne Brown spoke to News Editor Janine Willemans about her new position, uniting the ANC in the Province and putting up a strong challenge in next year’s election on the eve of being sworn in.
Ebrahim Rasool, former Premier of the Western Cape
Lynne Brown, was born in Cape Town on the 26th of September 1961. She grew up in Mitchell's Plain on the Cape Flats. Brown is a qualified teacher and also completed a certificate in Gender Planning Methodology at the University College, London, in 1993. 
