Trade Minister Patel to quit cabinet after election

South African Trade, Industry & Competition Minister Ebrahim Patel will quit the cabinet after next week’s election.

Patel, 62, joins Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan in announcing that he won’t be available to serve in the next national executive after the 29 May vote.

The minister plans to spend more time with his family, he said in an interview with Johannesburg-based newspaper Business Day.

“This will be the last term in cabinet,” Patel said. “Having served 15 years, I think one must now step back.”

Earlier this year, Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan announced that he would retire from active politics.

His retirement from active politics means he will not be available as a candidate on the ANC’s electoral list.

Gordhan has had mixed results as a cabinet member. He served as Finance Minister from 2009 until 2014 and again from 2015 until 2017.

He also served as Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs from 2014 until 2015 and Minister of Public Enterprises since February 2018.