- President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed Alexandra Abrahams as Deputy Minister of Electricity and Energy following consultations within the Government of National Unity.
- Abrahams succeeds Samantha Graham Maré, who has stepped down after serving in the portfolio since the formation of the GNU.
- The appointment strengthens the Department of Electricity and Energy leadership as South Africa continues to implement critical energy sector reforms.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced changes to South Africa’s National Executive following consultations with the leadership of the Democratic Alliance as a member of the Government of National Unity.
As part of the Cabinet reshuffle, Alexandra Abrahams has been appointed Deputy Minister of Electricity and Energy, succeeding Samantha Graham Maré.
Born and raised in Cape Town, Abrahams holds an undergraduate degree in International Relations and an Honours degree in Political Science from Stellenbosch University. She joined the Democratic Alliance in 2009, beginning a political career focused on public service and governance.
Before entering Parliament, Abrahams worked at the Western Cape Department of Social Development, where she gained experience supporting vulnerable communities. The role reinforced her interest in evidence based policy and social development.
Abrahams was elected to the National Assembly in 2019 and is currently serving her second term. During her time in Parliament, she has established a reputation for parliamentary oversight, accountability and protecting the rights of South Africans.
Her appointment comes as the Department of Electricity and Energy continues to drive reforms aimed at improving energy security, expanding generation capacity and supporting South Africa’s energy transition.
Outgoing Deputy Minister Samantha Graham Maré described her time in office as the greatest honour of her career.
“It has been the greatest honour of my life to serve my country in this capacity. I will forever be grateful to those who saw my potential and gave me the opportunity to be part of history in the Government of National Unity.”
She also thanked Minister of Electricity and Energy Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, departmental officials and her team for their support during her tenure, saying she had “never worked harder” but had “loved every minute” of serving in the role.
Author: Bryan Groenendaal
