All the President's women and men - AS IT HAPPENED

President Cyril Ramaphosa announced South Africa's new executive last night, which shrank by eight ministers and a deputy. On salaries alone, that means an annual saving of more than R21 million.

According to Africa Check, cabinet ministers each receive an annual salary of R2.4 million, with deputy ministers get R1.98 million. 

The deputy  president - which remains David Mabuza - gets R2.83 million, while the president’s salary is almost R2.88 million.

The rand gained 0.5% against the dollar on Wednesday evening in the wake of President Cyril Ramaphosa's announcement of his new Cabinet.

Ramaphosa, speaking from the Union Buildings in Pretoria in a televised address, announced that Pravin Gordhan would stay on as minister of public enterprises.

Tito Mboweni retained his position as minister of finance.

"There are no real surprises in the Cabinet," said TreasuryONE in a snap note to clients. 

The local currency opened the day at R14.73/$ and fell by 1% in early trade before making up its earlier losses into the afternoon. 

By 20:50, minutes before Ramaphosa started to speak, it was at its opening price.

At 22:22 it was changing hands at R14.66/$, up 0.5%.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced his new Cabinet of 28 members on Wednesday night at the Union Buildings in Pretoria.

David "DD" Mabuza remains deputy president of the country, while Ramaphosa has retained Finance Minister Tito Mboweni for fiscal stability.

Ramaphosa has kept his promise of reducing the size of Cabinet and government departments, by trimming his ministers from 36 to 28.

The size of government increased dramatically under former president Jacob Zuma.

Ramaphosa's full Cabinet list:

•The Deputy President is David Mabuza.

• The Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development is Thoko Didiza.

•The Deputy Ministers are Sdumo Dlamini and Mcebisi Skwatsha.

•The Minister of Basic Education is Angie Motshekga.

•The Deputy Minister is Dr Regina Mhaule.

• The Minister of Communications is Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams.

•The Deputy Minister is Pinky Kekana.

•The Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs is Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.

•The Deputy Ministers are Parks Tau and Obed Bapela.

•The Minister of Defence and Military Veterans is Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula.

•The Deputy Minister is Thabang Makwetla.

•The Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries is Barbara Creecy.

•The Deputy Minister is Maggie Sotyu.

•The Minister of Employment and Labour is Thulas Nxesi.

•The Deputy Minister is Boitumelo Moloi.

•The Minister of Finance is Tito Mboweni.

•The Deputy Minister is Dr David Masondo.

•The Minister of Health is Dr Zwelini Mkhize.

•The Deputy Minister is Dr Joe Phaahla.

•The Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology is Dr Blade Nzimande.

•The Deputy Minister is Buti Manamela.

•The Minister of Home Affairs is Dr Aaron Motsoaledi.

•The Deputy Minister is Njabulo Nzuza.

•The Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation is Lindiwe Sisulu.

•The Deputy Ministers are Pam Tshwete and David Mahlobo.

•The Minister of International Relations and Cooperation is Dr Naledi Pandor.

•The Deputy Ministers are Alvin Botes and Candith Mashego-Dlamini.

•The Minister of Justice and Correctional Services is Ronald Lamola.

•The Deputy Ministers are John Jeffery and Inkosi Phathekile Holomisa.

•The Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy is Gwede Mantashe.

•The Deputy Minister is Bavelile Hlongwa.

•The Minister of Police is General Bheki Cele.

•The Deputy Minister is Cassel Mathale.

•The Minister in the Presidency is Jackson Mthembu.

•The Deputy Minister in the Presidency is Thembi Siweya.

•The Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities is Maite Nkoana-Mashabane.

•The Deputy Minister is Prof Hlengiwe Mkhize.
•The Minister of Public Enterprises is Pravin Gordhan.

•The Deputy Minister is Phumulo Masualle.

•The Minister of Public Service and Administration is Senzo Mchunu.

•The Deputy Minister is Sindy Chikunga.

•The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure is Patricia De Lille.

•The Deputy Minister is Noxolo Kiviet.

•The Minister of Small Business Development is Khumbudzo Ntshavheni.

•The Deputy Minister is Rosemary Capa.

•The Minister of Social Development is Lindiwe Zulu.

•The Deputy Minister is Henrietta Bogopane-Zulu.

•The Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture is Nathi Mthethwa.

•The Deputy Minister is Nocawe Mafu.

•The Minister of State Security is Ayanda Dlodlo.

•The Deputy Minister is Zizi Kodwa.

•The Minister of Tourism is Nkhensani Kubayi-Ngubane.

•The Deputy Minister is Fish Mahlalela.

•The Minister of Trade and Industry is Ebrahim Patel.

•The Deputy Ministers are Fikile Majola and Nomalungelo Gina.

•The Minister of Transport is Fikile Mbalula.

•The Deputy Minister is Dikeledi Magadzi.

These are the ministries that will be combined:

Trade and industry combined with economic development

Higher education and training combined with science and technology

Enviromental affairs combined with forestry and fisheries

Agriculture combined with land reform and rural development

Mineral resources combined with energy

Human settlements combined with waste and sanitation

Sports and recreation combined with arts and culture

Ramaphosa says the number of ministers has been reduced from 36 to 28.

This is how the current Cabinet stands:

Agriculture, forestry, fisheries - Senzeni Zokwana

Arts and culture - Nathi Mthethwa

Basic education - Angie Motsheka

Communications - Stella Ndabeni

Cooperative governance and traditional affairs - Zweli Mkhize

Defence and military vets - Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula

Economic development - Ebrahim Patel

Energy - Jeff Radbe

Environmental affairs - Nomvula Mokonyane

Finance - Tito Mboweni

Health - Aaron Motsoaledi

Higher education, training - Naledi Pandor

Home affairs - Siyabonga Cwele

Human settlements - Nomaindia Mfeketo

International relations - Lindiwe Sisulu

Justice and correctional - Michael Masutha

Labour - Mildred Oliphant

Mineral resources - Gwede Mantashe

Planning, monitoring - Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma

Police - Bheki Cele

Public Enterprises - Pravin Gordhan

Public service - Ayanda Dlodlo

Public works- Thulas Nxesi

Rural development, land reform - Maite Nkoana-Mashabane

Science and technology - Mmamoloko Kubayi

Small business development - Lindiwe Zulu

Social development - Susan Shabangu

Sport, recreation - Tokozile Xasa

State security - Dipuo Letsatsi-Dube

Tourism - Derek Hanekom

Trade and industry - Rob Davies

Transport - Blade Nzimande

Water and sanitation - Gugile Nkwinti

Women - Bathabile Dlamini

COMMENT: Over the last couple of years we've become used to dramatic late night political announcements.

Who can forget the drama of Zuma's purge on March 30, 2017, when he fired a host of ministers, including the minister and deputy minister of finance? Or the series of Cabinet reshuffles when he neared the end of his term?

Ministerial appointments were often used as levers of patronage. -- Pieter du Toit

COMMENT: It's impossible to say why there is a delay.

The presidency sent out a notice late in the afternoon and official word is he is still consulting. More than likely there is some late-minute wrangling, considering all the factions Ramaphosa needs to keep happy.

He has a reformist agenda, but he also has to appease different factions in the ANC, as well as the women's lobby and the alliance partners, the SACP and Cosatu. Its a difficult task keeping everyone happy. -- Pieter du Toit

COMMENT: Acrimony has been swirling around Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan over the last couple of days.

He is one of Ramaphosa's point-men in efforts to reform the state and he has been put on terms by the EFF's Julius Malema not to appoint Gordhan.

If Ramaphosa buckles it would be another big political victory for Malema, who has shown that he has the ability to influence internal ANC politics.

It will however be difficult to leave out one of the main bulwarks against grand corruption and capture. -- Pieter du Toit

COMMENT: In February last year Ramaphosa shuffled the Cabinet he inherited from former president Jacob Zuma, omitting controversial ministers including Mosebenzi Zwane and David Mahlobo.

A central question tonight is: Will he be able to appoint whomever he wants? Is this the Cabinet that will be able to turn South Africa around? -- Pieter du Toit