The recent re-shuffle of DA members in the national Cabinet has seen Yusuf Cassim sworn in as a Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training. The former NMU SRC leader has thanked the public for all the prayers and messages of support he has received.
Geordin Hill-Lewis was recently elected to be the new leader of the Democratic Alliance, and one of his first actions was to prompt the President to make some changes to the Government of National Unity (GNU). One high-profile decision was to move Agriculture Minister, and former party leader, John Steenhuisen. Another move that Hill-Lewis prompted was the promotion of Eastern-Cape MP Yusuf Cassim to become the new Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training.
Minister Buti Manamela retains his role, as does the other Deputy Minister Dr Nomusa Dube-Ncube.
The new Ministers and Deputy-Ministers have now been sworn in by President Ramaphosa.
On his social media channels new Deputy Minister Yusuf Cassim thanked all those who had supported his promotion. "Thank you for all of your prayers and messages of support. I have read every message and comment and will be reacting to each of them."
Cassim also hit back at criticism he had received online because of his religion.
"I am a proud South African. Born and bred in South Africa, just like my parents and their parents before them.
I have dedicated my entire adult life to fighting for ALL South Africans and will continue to do so. I am proud of the invaluable contributions made by ALL South Africans including Coloured, Indian and Malay South Africans to our liberation struggle. We owe it to them to unite in building a South Africa FOR ALL South Africans."
Deputy-Minister Cassim hails from Uitenhage in the Eastern Cape and studied at the Nelson Mandela University, where he served as SRC President. He has been a Member of Parliament since 2014 and has served on the Portfolio Committee for Higher Education and Training.
Cassim told his local newspaper, the EP Herald, that he is going to, "fight for my peers and fight for young people who are not from privileged backgrounds and who cannot buy or purchase access opportunities and resources."
Minister Welcomes His New Deputy
