Former Treasury boss Trevor Manuel was having a serious discussion with Minister of Higher Education and Training Blade Nzimande in Cape Town on Wednesday.

Mining magnate turned Human Settlements Minister Tokyo Sexwale made small talk with Tourism Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk and President Jacob Zuma joked and laughed as he unfurled a handkerchief and sat down next to his deputy Kgalema Motlanthe to chair the first meeting of his Cabinet.

The last minister in the door, Geoff Doidge, said he was delighted to be retained by Zuma as minister of public works, a post he took up in September last year after Thabo Mbeki was recalled as president.

"It feels damn good (to be back). Now I can get the work done that we started in the first six months," he said.

Ministers were expected to approve a slew of appointments in their first fortnightly session as they gathered at Tuynhuys early Wednesday.

These include the head of the new Directorate of Priority Crime Investigation (DPIC) — a post tipped to go to the National Prosecuting Authority's Willie Hofmeyr — and the media team in the presidency.

Motlanthe's spokesman Thabo Masebe denied reports that he was making way for popular Government Communication and Information System chief Themba Maseko to do the job for Zuma.

"Don't believe anything you read in the newspapers," he smiled.

"It will all be announced this week."

Sapa

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