AFTER much speculation about the furture of Pravin Gordhan’s job as Finance minister, the moment many South Africans expected has finally happened. President Jacob Zuma has reshuffled his cabinet. He said the changes made to the National Executive were in order “to improve efficiency and effectiveness.”

In the early hours of Friday morning, the President released this statement.

“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,” the President said.

Among some of the surprises is Malusi Gigaba’s move from Home Affairs to Finance replacing Pravin Gordhan.

Another includes Fikile Mbalula’s move from Sport to Police while Faith Muthambi is in charge of public servants and Bathabile Dlamini stays put as minister of social development.

A number of changes were made to the deputy minister positions as well.

Here’s how Twitter reacted to the news:

No! This is not a #cabinetreshuffle! This is a coup d'etat! It's a direct takeover of government by a mafia with no reason to hide anymore!

— Mbuyiseni Ndlozi (@MbuyiseniNdlozi) March 31, 2017

#cabinetreshuffle the Arabs went to d streets and changed their fate. We're here tweeting. @SakinaKamwendo #Amlive

— Cllr_Welekazi💙🇿🇦 (@African_Spring) March 31, 2017

Bathabile Dlamini remains in Cabinet: rewarded for incompetence, lack of ethics and risking social security for millions. #cabinetreshuffle

— Eusebius McKaiser (@Eusebius) March 30, 2017

Doing a #cabinetreshuffle in the middle of the night. They thought we won't notice! Ha!

— Ulrich Janse van Vuuren (@UlrichJvV) March 30, 2017

#cabinetreshuffle can't listen to these clowns on ANN7, I'll catch breaking news on twitter pic.twitter.com/NsgsJyob0c

— Bongiwe (@bmapoma) March 30, 2017

Jacob Zuma wins again.#CabinetReshuffle pic.twitter.com/eLYv0eyBBC

— Justice Malala (@justicemalala) March 30, 2017

Thulas
Pravin
Mbaks
Motsoaledi
Mahlobo
Hanekom
Patel
Nhleko

Some of the Ministers who got the chop #cabinetreshuffle

— Miss_stash (@miss_steg) March 30, 2017

https://twitter.com/ras_digital/status/847542472607752192

3 finance ministers in 3 years & deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa is not saying anything. #cabinetreshuffle @MYANC Cry my beloved country 🇿🇦

— Moeketsi (@MoeketsiBaller) March 31, 2017

#Zuma while we sleeping wena you decide to turn the country upside down #cabinetreshuffle

— ylengiyleng (@ylengiyleng) March 31, 2017

https://twitter.com/JustKholii_/status/847676453915287553

https://twitter.com/Barry_Roux/status/847675014870466561

https://twitter.com/RonaldPhiri01/status/847664475813494789