President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed Small Business Development Minister Stella Ndabeni‑Abrahams as Acting Minister of Health effective from 24 August until 30 September 2026, the Presidency announced on Sunday.
Appointment and legal basis
The Presidency said the appointment was made under section 98 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996. Ndabeni‑Abrahams will carry out all functions of the national health portfolio for the specified period while the incumbent, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, remains on sick leave, the Presidency’s spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said.
“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,” Magwenya said.
Roles and concurrent responsibilities
Ndabeni‑Abrahams continues to serve as Minister of Small Business Development and holds a prominent role within the African National Congress, where she is the Chairperson of the party’s local government intervention task team. The announcement comes amid intensified campaigning ahead of the local government elections scheduled for 4 November 2026.
While the primary focus of the announcement was the temporary transfer of ministerial duties, Ndabeni‑Abrahams used media engagements in Johannesburg during the week to comment on municipal governance in the City of Johannesburg. She attributed the deterioration of the metro to the period beginning in 2016 when the Democratic Alliance first governed the municipality and cited coalition dynamics as a factor.
Context: municipal governance and party reforms
In Johannesburg Ndabeni‑Abrahams said the municipality had been in a stronger financial position under ANC governance prior to 2016 and said the party had learned lessons since the 2021 local government elections. She said the ANC had introduced 13 reforms through a white paper to address weaknesses observed in municipal governance and to strengthen accountability mechanisms, while acknowledging that introducing mechanisms does not guarantee their consistent application.
- Acting period: 24 August – 30 September 2026
- Legal basis: Section 98 of the Constitution
- Reason: Dr Aaron Motsoaledi on sick leave
- Concurrent role: Minister of Small Business Development; Chairperson of ANC local government task team
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Appointment announced | 23 August 2026 (Presidency announcement) |
| Acting period | 24 August – 30 September 2026 |
| Incumbent health minister | Dr Aaron Motsoaledi (on sick leave) |
Implications for the health sector
A temporary ministerial change raises practical questions for the Department of Health’s leadership and continuity of policy implementation. The Presidency’s announcement clarifies legal authority for decision‑making during the acting period, but it does not detail any immediate shifts in departmental policy or priorities.
Healthcare workers, provincial health departments and service users typically look for reassurance that routine functions — from budgetary management to ongoing national health programmes — will continue without disruption. The Presidency confirmed the transfer of ministerial functions, which provides formal authority for the acting minister to oversee departmental operations for the duration specified.
Members of the public should seek information or services from their nearest clinic or hospital and consult healthcare professionals rather than self‑diagnose. The Presidency statement and Ndabeni‑Abrahams’s comments focus on ministerial appointment and municipal governance rather than clinical matters.
The acting appointment is time‑bound; any further changes to the leadership of the health ministry would be announced by the Presidency in due course.
