DA leader Geordin Hill-Lewis has congratulated his party’s new representatives in the National Executive, who are being sworn in on Wednesday to serve in the Government of National Unity (GNU).

The appointments follow “structural adjustments” requested by Hill-Lewis last month, aimed at demonstrating the "DA difference".

President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the executive changes on Tuesday night.

The adjustments see Willem Aucamp appointed as Agriculture Minister and David Maynier appointed as Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Minister.

John Steenhuisen is now Trade, Industry and Competition Deputy Minister; Alexandra Abrahams is Electricity and Energy Deputy Minister; Jack Bloom is Water and Sanitation Deputy Minister; and Yusuf Cassim is now Higher Education Deputy Minister.

Hill-Lewis emphasised that these deployments followed a “strict assessment” of the party's executive performance.

While celebrating its new executive deployments, the DA fiercely condemned Ramaphosa’s concurrent decision to appoint Dina Pule as the new Social Development Minister.

DA spokesperson on Social Development Nazley Sharif slammed the appointment, highlighting Pule's controversial political history.

Pule was previously removed from Cabinet following findings by the Public Protector, which included maladministration and improper conduct. She was also formally reprimanded by Parliament for betraying her oath of office, with her conduct later referred for criminal investigation.

Sharif accused Ramaphosa of prioritising internal ANC Women’s League interests over the well-being of millions of vulnerable South Africans who rely heavily on social grants.

Despite the friction over Pule's appointment, Hill-Lewis maintained that the DA's incoming team remains “firmly focused” on raising standards and holding public officials accountable to South Africans.