New members of multi-party executive sworn in
Members of the national executive were sworn in on Wednesday.
President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the ministers and deputy ministers drawn from the multi-party government of national unity on Sunday night.
Returning Deputy President Paul Mashatile was the first to take his oath at a ceremony presided over by Chief Justice Raymond Zondo in Cape Town.
Small Business Development Minister Stella Ndabeni and the new Transport Minister Barbara Creecy have also been sworn in.
The African National Congress (ANC), which has governed since the advent of democracy in 1994, sought to form a government of national unity after losing its outright parliamentary majority in May 29 elections.
The historied party has 20 cabinet positions, including foreign affairs, finance, defence, justice, and police.
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The Democratic Alliance, its largest coalition partner and long-time critic, will head six ministries, including agriculture, public works, and communication.
DA leader John Steenhuisen was appointed agriculture minister.
Along with his party, he has criticised the ANC for failing to tackle high violent crime rates, a lacklustre economy and a crippling energy crisis.
The Inkatha Freedom Party, Patriotic Alliance, Freedom-Front Plus and other smaller parties will hold six cabinet positions between them.
The new government heralds a pragmatic shift to the centre-right, bringing hope for better governance but also cohesion fears.
Ramaphosa has been under fire from opposition and business leaders over the number of ministers, with fears that the government will become immobilised and a waste of taxpayers' money.
The opposition leftist Economic Freedom Fighters voiced concern "that this cabinet has been increased and bloated, signalling more pressure on taxpayers".
