The Health & Other Services Personnel Trade Union of South Africa (Hospersa) on Thursday welcomed Dr Zweli Mkhize as Health Minister, following the highly anticipated Cabinet announcement by President Cyril Ramaphosa last night.

Mkhize takes over from Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, who has now been appointed Minister of Home Affairs.

Hospersa gave Mkhize its vote of confidence, saying he was the right person to turn around the ailing Department of Health (DoH) and called on him to deal with the staff shortages, poor infrastructure and corruption in the DoH.

The union said Mkhize previously did a good job as KwaZulu-Natal Health MEC  between 1994 and 2004.

Hospersa public relations officer Kevin Halama said the DoH needed dedicated leaders for urgent renewal, especially in light of the rolling out the National Health Insurance system. 

He added that the union was looking forward to working with Mkhize in addressing a number of challenges affecting the delivery of quality health care, as well as issues affecting its members. 

The union thanked Motsoaledi for his contribution during his tenure as the Minister of Health. 

Hospersa also applauded Ramaphosa for gender balancing the Cabinet with 50% women, and said the country was moving in the right direction in addressing gender parity in senior government positions.