Our dearest Number One, Jacob Zuma, has once again flexed his executive muscles in a radical cabinet reshuffle.

The scale of the changes is almost unprecedented, with nearly a “third of the ministers” changing and 10 new deputy ministers, reports EWN.

Political analyst Ralph Mathekga says Zuma has planned this carefully.

This time he has done groundwork before this reshuffle. We know he has wanted a reshuffle since he fired Nhlanhla Nene and replaced him with Des Van Rooyen.

Looking at the people who have been fired, though, it’s clear that this time it means payback – with many of them having been highly critical of Zuma.

Last night, at around 11PM, Jacob Zuma addressed the nation with his statement on the reshuffle:

I have decided to make changes to the National Executive in order to improve efficiency and effectiveness.

The changes bring some younger MPs and women into the National Executive in order to benefit from their energy, experience and expertise.

I have directed the new Ministers and Deputy Ministers to work tirelessly with their colleagues to bring about radical socio-economic transformation and to ensure that the promise of a better life for the poor and the working class becomes a reality.

MINISTERS

1. Minister of Energy, Ms Mmamoloko “Nkhensani” Kubayi

2. Minister of Transport, Mr Joe Maswanganyi

3. Minister of Finance, Mr Malusi Gigaba

4. Minister of Police, Mr Fikile Mbalula

5. Minister of Public Works, Mr Nathi Nhleko,

6. Minister of Sports and Recreation, Mr Thembelani Nxesi

7. Minister of Tourism, Ms Tokozile Xasa

8. Minister of Public Service and Administration, Ms Faith Muthambi

9. Minister of Home Affairs, Prof Hlengiwe Mkhize

10. Minister of Communications, Ms Ayanda Dlodlo

DEPUTY MINISTERS

1. Deputy Minister of Public Service and Administration, Ms Dipuo Letsatsi-Duba

2. Deputy Minister of Finance, Mr Sifiso Buthelezi

3. Deputy Minister of Public Enterprises, Mr Ben Martins

4. Deputy Minister of Arts and Culture, Ms Maggie Sotyu

5. Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr Gratitude Magwanishe

6. Deputy Minister of Communications, Ms Thandi Mahambehlala,

7. Deputy Minister of Tourism, Ms Elizabeth Thabethe

8. Deputy Minister of Police, Mr Bongani Mkongi

9. Deputy Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services, Ms Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams

10. Deputy Minister of Small Business Development, Ms Nomathemba November.

I wish to extend his gratitude to the outgoing Ministers and Deputy Ministers for their service to the country. I also wish the new Ministers and Deputy Ministers the best in their new responsibilities.

Funny that, you would think Bathabile Dlamini wouldn’t stay on as Social Development Minister, but alas.

To put things into perspective, EWN compiled a comprehensive list of all the ministers who are being replaced alongside who is replacing them, pictures included:

So let’s get to it – who is this Malusi Gigaba, the new Minister of Finance?

Analysts have called him an “unknown quantity,” reports IOL.

“The market will struggle to digest Gigaba. We think this is bad for the market and for SA,” Nomura emerging markets analyst Peter Attard Montalto said in a note.

“We view this as an open attack on Treasury to replace people who are conservative and anti-corruption with people loyal to Zuma.”

Some pundits say Gordhan is being pressured by a faction allied to Zuma, which has clashed with him over his plans to rein in government spending, the management of state enterprises and the running of the tax agency as the economy stagnates.

Africa’s most industrialised economy faces the risk of being downgraded to junk status owing to weak economic growth after it got a reprieve last year. The economy grew by 0.3 percent in 2016 versus 1.3 percent in the previous year.

“The little that we know at the moment is that its probably not good news for the markets because he (Gigaba) doesn’t have any real finance experience,” said Noelani King Conradie, managing director at NKC African Economics.

“This definitely raises the risk of rating downgrades and it is going to continue the uncertainty about future economic policies.”

Wikipedia, however, has its own ideas on Gigaba. Take a look at the last line of that top paragraph:

[source:huffingpost&ewn&iol]