Ndabeni-Abrahams will undertake all functions of the ministry.
Small Business Development Minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams has been appointed as the acting health minister. Picture: Jacques Nelles
Small Business Development Minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams has been appointed as the acting health minister in place of the current minister, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi.
The Presidency made the announcement on Sunday, 23 August 2026.
Acting health minister
“President Cyril Ramaphosa has, in terms of section 98 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa of 1996, appointed Minister Stella Ndabeni as Acting Minister of Health with effect from 24 August to 30 September 2026,” said Ramaphosa’s spokesperson Vincent Magwenya.
Magwenya said Ndabeni-Abrahams will undertake all functions for the said period while Motsoaledi remains on sick leave.
No further information was provided.
Joburg problems
Meanwhile, as campaigning remains in full swing before the local government election on 4 November 2026, Ndabeni-Abrahams, who is also the Chairperson of the ANC’s local government intervention task team, told the media in Johannesburg on Wednesday that the deterioration of the country’s biggest metro began in 2016, when the DA took its first stint at governing Joburg.
“It only got messed up and went down after they took over when they were working with the EFF.”
Ndabani-Abrahams said the City was in a better financial position when the ANC governed outside of a coalition arrangement.
“When they took over from comrade Parks Tau, this municipality had huge reserves,” she said.
‘ANC learnt lessons’
Ndabeni-Abrahams, however, admitted that the ANC had learnt some lessons since the 2021 local government elections and now wants to correct the weaknesses it has observed in municipal governance.
“We have introduced 13 reforms through the white paper because we have seen that certain challenges that are faced by municipalities are not entirely dependent on them.
“We have also learnt that we can put certain mechanisms in place in terms of accountability, but that does not mean the application of the mechanisms, and the ANC has been the only party, by the way, that has tried to be transparent and take responsibility for the failures,” she said.
Ndabeni-Abrahams said the ANC has also noted that political instability in municipalities contributes to the delays in service delivery to residents.
Additional reporting by Itumeleng Mafisa
