South Africa, you have a new sports minister, Gayton McKenzie (PA)

Lester Kiewit is joined by Ismail Mahomed, director of the Centre for Creative Arts at the University of KwaZulu-Natal.

Listen below.

McKenzie had previously said he would jump ship from the burgeoning Government of National Unity (GNU) if President Cyril Ramaphosa did not give him a ministerial position.

So, it looks as if the Patriotic Alliance (PA) and its leader Gayton McKenzie are set to stick around, for a while at least - he's been made Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture.

After keeping the country on tenterhooks, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced his cabinet on Sunday evening.

Mahomed says there was never any expectation that the President would appoint a high-ranking minister to this portfolio.

"The ANC over the last 30 years have shown absolute disdain for the cultural and creative sector."

- Ismail Mahomed, Centre for Creative Arts - University of KwaZulu-Natal

"It's no surprise that a contentious, or controversial person has been appointed to this particular post."

- Ismail Mahomed, Centre for Creative Arts - University of KwaZulu-Natal

The challenge, says Mahomed, is to see how the sector holds McKenzie to account and what he delivers.

"... the ANC has never appointed a single Minister of Arts and Culture that has merits, that has integrity, that has understanding of the cultural and creative sector, or that has a passion for the arts."

- Ismail Mahomed, Centre for Creative Arts - University of KwaZulu-Natal

Previously the role has been held by corruption-accused Zizi Kodwa who resigned earlier this month amid graft allegations, and Nathi Mthethwa, who was in the role for four years from 2019.

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Ramaphosa says work has been done to ensure ordinary citizens can relate to the new government.  

"We want South Africans to see themselves reflected not only in the composition of government but also in its policies and programmes," he said.  

Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the full interview.