President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday night said he had accepted the requests to leave the Cabinet from Finance Minister Tito Mboweni and suspended health minister Zweli Mkhize.
Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula was axed as defence minister.
Ramaphosa replaced her with Thandi Modise.
He also announced the appointments of several other new Cabinet ministers that included:
Enoch Godongwana as finance minister,
Joe Phaalha as heath minister,
Mondli Gungubele is minister in the Presidency,
Lindiwe Sisulu is tourism minister,
Ayanda Dlodlo is public service and administration minister,
Mmamoloko Kubayi is minister of human settlements,
Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams is minister of small business,
Khumbudzo Ntshavheni is communications minister, and
Senzo Mchunu is water and sanitation minister.
Ramaphosa, who said the changes to the national executive were aimed at improving the capacity of government, also announced that he had done away with the ministry of state security.
He said the state security functions would be moved into the presidency led by deputy minister Zizi Kodwa. The president said he was also appointing a security council made up of academics.
Former Cabinet minister Sydney Mufamadi has been appointed as security advisor.
