The focus will now be on how the social democratic and left-leaning members of South Africa's cabinet -- the "constitutionalists" -- will respond to the reshuffle.
South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma during his State of the Nation Address in February 2017.
Reuters/Sumaya Hisham
South African struggle stalwart Ahmed Kathrada believed in non-racialism to his core, even as others around him began to argue for an Africanist approach.
US President Donald Trump often owns the conversation on Twitter for all the wrong reasons. But why use the same tactics we're criticising him for? And what would be an appropriate response?
Social grants help millions of South Africans escape the burden of poverty.
Nic Bothma/EPA
South Africa’s Constitutional Court has repeatedly stepped in to protect vulnerable people and to perform what former deputy chief Justice Dikgang Moseneke calls its "transformative role".
South Africa’s Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini with President Jacob Zuma.
GCIS
South Africa's social grants fiasco begs the question: was it orchestrated to undermine the judiciary and the constitution and hide sheer incompetence on the part of government?
People queue to register for government grants in Cape Town, South Africa.
EPA/Nic Bothma
South Africa's Constitutional Court is in a fix. The only way to deliver social grants that support millions would be through a process that's without validation, would be unlawful and invalid.
Leader of South Africa’s opposition parties and civil society took part in an anti-corruption march against the government.
EPA/KIM LUDBROOK
South Africa’s social compact is at breaking point and the country may need a dialogue similar to its 1994 political transition talks to get out of the crisis.
Workers walk past a Lonmin Marikana platinum mine, a site that represents industrial strife in South Africa.
Reuters/Skyler Reid
South Africa's mining industry is on an unsustainable trajectory and needs to undergo fundamental transformation that emphasises transparency, equity, and community participation.
Workers at Medupi coal-fired power station during its construction, one of South Africa’s most costly and environmentally unfriendly projects.
Reuters/Siphiwe Sibeko
In preparing the 2017 national budget South Africa needs to take heed of warnings that its historical austerity measures are hurting the poor and even costing lives.
Finance minister Pravin Gordhan, his deputy Mcebisi Jonas, and Reserve Bank Governor Lesetja Kganyago.
GCIS
The decision to give former Eskom CEO, Brian Molefe, a seat in the country's parliament comes with the potential to cause great economic pain for South Africa.
President Jacob Zuma delivers his state of the nation address in Cape Town. Critics say he failed to galvanise the nation.
Reuters/Sumaya Hisham
South African President, Jacob Zuma, wasted lots of time and space in cheap politicking instead of galvanising South Africans to work together for a better future.
Barack Obama's high standing in sub-Sahara Africa persisted despite grumbling that he never delivered American largess to the degree many initially expected.
Thousands wait in line outside the social services office in Cape Town to register for grants.
EPA/Nic Bothma
In his recent state of the nation address South Africa's President Jacob Zuma spoke emphatically of "radical economic transformation" causing nationwide debate. What does it really mean?
President Jacob Zuma delivers his State of the Nation Address (SONA).
Sumaya Hisham/Reuters
South Africa's President, Jacob Zuma, promised radical economic transformation in his 2017 state of the nation address. A lot of what he said in support of this promise is alternative facts.
President Jacob Zuma during his 2017 state of the nation address to a joint sitting of the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces.
Reuters/Sumaya Hisham
President Zuma's speech is historically meaningless in that it is not a milestone of any professed historical mission.
Security officials remove members of the Economic Freedom Fighters during South African President Jacob Zuma’s State of the Nation Address.
Reuters/Sumaya Hisham
The ANC should draw the lesson that South Africans are unlikely to tolerate the ongoing descent of their politics into the gutter without strident resistance - in the streets, if necessary.
Senior Lecturer in Economics, Research Associate at the Public and Environmental Economics Research Centre (PEERC) and Visiting Fellow at the Johannesburg Institute of Advanced Study (JIAS), University of Johannesburg