The Next Communications Minister

Jacob Zuma will be sworn in as South Africa's new president on 9 May, and is likely to announce a revamped cabinet which should include many new faces.

One of the key positions which will have to be filled is that of Communications Minister - currently filled by acting minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang after Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri passed away in a Pretoria hospital earlier this month.

An obvious candidate for the position is the current Deputy Communications Minister Roy Padayachie.   Padayachie is widely seen as a leader which may be able to bring much needed change to the communications ministry and his experience in the field will be a valuable asset to the portfolio.

Padayachie is however not the favourite.  The current Minister of Arts and Culture Pallo Jordan is piped to be the forerunner.  Jordan was the Minister for Posts, Telecommunications and Broadcasting from 1994 to 1996, and was appointed as the Minister for Environmental Affairs and Tourism in 1996.

Another potential candidate is Lumka Yengeni, who is a member of the ANC's communications portfolio committee.  Lumka Yengeni is married to Tony Yengeni, who is well known for being found guilty in 2003 of defrauding Parliament and sentenced to 4 years imprisonment.

One of the dark horses in the race is the current MInister of Transport, Jeff Radebe.  One source said that Radebe is a popular choice amoung a group of ANC insiders, but his lack of experience in the communications field may count against him.