Cabinet: key figures

South Africa's new President Jacob Zuma unveiled his new cabinet on Sunday, making a major overhaul in the structure of government with the creation of a powerful new planning commission.

Following are thumbnails of key members of the new cabinet:

Trevor Manuel

Post: Head of the National Planning Commission

After winning plaudits during his 13 years as finance minister, Manuel takes over what could become one of the most important jobs in government, leading the new National Planning Commission.

In his new role, Manuel will be tasked with overseeing Zuma's campaign pledges to improving public services and coordinating action at all levels of government.

Although he has not shied away from tough choices that angered South Africa's politically powerful left, Manuel's humour helped him win over many critics as he steered the nation through an unprecedented period of growth only now hitting the rocks.

Pravin Gordhan

Post: Finance Minister

As commissioner of the South African Revenue Services, Gordhan earned kudos for improving tax collection and getting the organisation to run more efficiently.

Gordhan (60) played a leading role in the multi-party negotiations to end apartheid and later co-chaired the country's transitional executive council that supervised the run-up to the first democratic elections in 1994.

A pharmacist by training, Gordhan was re-elected chair of the council of World Customs Organisation for an unprecedented five times.

Read the extended Gordhan profile...

Post: Minister of Human Settlements

A former premier of South Africa's richest province Gauteng, millionaire businessman Tokyo Sexwale came out of political retirement to campaign closely at Zuma's side.

Sexwale (56) is popular with business, a top philanthropist and hosted the South African version of the television reality show "The Apprentice". He was jailed for 13 years on Robben Island alongside Zuma and Nelson Mandela.

His new job with the housing portfolio tackles one of South Africa's most pressing social issues. Government has built 2.8 million houses since apartheid ended 15 years ago, but 1.1 million South African families still live in shacks and their numbers are growing.

Jeff Radebe

Post: Justice Minister

Mbeki's minister of transport, 56-year-old Radebe is the respected head of policy in the African National Congress and one of the few ministers serving under the old administration to give his support to Zuma.

Barbara Hogan

Post: Minister for Public Entreprises

Hogan became a sorely needed new champion in South Africa's chequered Aids fight when she took over the lacklustre health department less than a year ago with a reputation as a skilled manager and tough activist.

The first white woman in South Africa to be found guilty of treason, Hogan was sentenced by the apartheid state to 10 years in prison in 1982, but was released in 1990.

She takes on a crucial new role that will noteably require her to turn around the struggling South African Airways.

Pieter Mulder

Post: Deputy Agriculture Minister

The leader of the mainly white and Afrikaans Freedom Front Plus party, which is primarily concerned with the economically key and often emotive issue of farming.

He is considered a competent parliamentarian and praised Zuma for "reaching out to Afrikaners". He will serve under the new minister Tina Joemat-Peterson, a respected provincial agriculture official from rural Northern Cape province.

What do you think of the new Cabinet? Share your thoughts below...

AFP

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