BREAKING NEWS!!! SOUTH AFRICA WOMEN MAKES HISTORY!!!!!!!!

South Africa makes history as women make up half of cabinet for first time

Patricia de Lille, former Mayor of Cape Town has been appointed as the country's minister of public works.

(V-P NEWS)  — Women will now make up half of South Africa's new cabinet for the first time in the country's history.

President Cyril Ramaphosa who announced the move on Wednesday said: the decision was to create a line of leaders that would advance the country's future.

"For the first time in the history of our country, half of all the ministers are women,"

 Ramaphosa said in a televised press conference.

Patricia de Lille, former Mayor of Cape Town and leader of the Good political party has been appointed the minister of public works. The women are due to be sworn in Thursday when newly appointed ministers take their oath of office.

Ramaphosa said he was downsizing the number of cabinet ministers from 36 to 28 is an effort to "downscale" the "bloated government."

Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng and new Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure Patricia de Lille shared a sweet moment during Thursday's swearing-in of the executive in Pretoria.

After taking her oath, De Lille took her seat next to Mogoeng to sign an official document.

"Did you see this coming?" a bemused Mogoeng whispers to her.

 "No!" She whispers back. "I was [just] shocked!" she appears to whisper back.

    The Good party leader and former Cape Town mayor said she was "deeply honoured and humbled to have received the call to serve as a minister in South Africa's new Cabinet" and that it is time South Africans demonstrate their ability to "rise above party political differences".

      In a statement released shortly after the announcement, De Lille said: "I have fought for justice in our country for more than 40 years and have no plans to give up fighting. I pledge to continue the struggle for dignity and fairness for all South Africans."

She continued: "I will continue to lead Good and to fight for a responsible, accountable and compassionate government."