President Jacob Zuma’s modified and increased the size of his executive in his second term at the helm.
Not surprisingly he brought in trade unionist turned billionaire businessman Cyril Ramaphosa as his deputy.
But he’s risked unsettling investors by dropping Pravin Gordhan as finance minister.
The leaner administration analysts were expecting President Jacob Zuma to announce hasn’t materialised.
After promising to address weaker growth, stubborn inflation, rising unemployment and fragile labour relations, he’s name a Cabinet of 36 – one more than he had in his first term.
Cyril Ramaphosa, who hasn’t held public office in nearly two decades is the biggest winner as deputy president.
Ramaphosa quit when it became clear the party preferred Thabo Mbeki to succeed Nelson Mandela.
He’s spend the interleading years making a business fortune – acquiring a skill that will be useful to Zuma who’s saying the economy will be front and centre of his second term.
Driving this will be South Africa’s first black finance minister Nhlanhla Nene.
Incumbent Pravin Gordhan’s been demoted to cooperation governance and traditional affairs but significantly stayed on the team.
Twenty others have been moved.
Zuma’s foreign policy advisor Lindiwe Zulu has been elevated to head of the new small business development ministry.
Ousted Guateng premier Novula Mokonyane is rewarded with water and sanitation