President Zuma's team takes office at a time when South Africa is slipping into its first recession since the collapse of apartheid 15 years ago.

With this in mind, one of his key appointments was the naming of Trevor Manuel to head a powerful new National Planning Commission, keeping the popular veteran finance minister at the heart of policy-making. The decision is likely to please investors.

Zuma said the strategic planning body would "enable us to take a more comprehensive view of socio-economic development in the country."

Former tax authority boss Pravin Gordhan, who is credited with improving tax collection during his time at the helm of the revenue service, will take over from Manuel at the finance ministry. The post is crucial to steering Africa's largest economy through the global downturn.

Another eagerly anticipated announcement was the post of health minister, a key portfolio in a country with the highest rate of HIV/AIDS in the world.

Zuma transferred outspoken Health Minister Barbara Hogan to the public enterprises portfolio. The move is seen as a censure of Hogan's criticism of the government over the refusal to issue the Dalai Lama a visa to visit South Africa in March.

She has been replaced by Aaron Motsoaledi, a provincial education minister.

The health community had cheered when Zuma's predecessor Kgalema Motlanthe named Hogan last year to replace Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, who was scornfully dubbed "Dr. Beetroot" for promoting vegetable remedies for AIDS symptoms.

In keeping with the ruling African National Congress tradition of making the party's deputy leader the second in command, Zuma chose Motlanthe as his vice-president.

To the post of Minister of International Relations, Zuma tapped a relative unknown, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, a former provincial housing commissioner, to take over from Zuma's ex-wife Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma. Dlamini-Zuma inherits the difficult Home Affairs department, which is responsible for immigration and is dogged by high levels of corruption.

Zuma named the head of one of the smaller white minority parties, Pieter Mulder, of the Freedom Front Plus, as deputy minister of agriculture. Many white Afrikaans farmers have complained that their views are not heard in the government.

President Zuma also appointed South African Communist Party leader, Blade Nzimande, as minister of higher education, a new portfolio.

Zuma, who campaigned vigorously for the poor, promising change and a renewed focus on services, warned government bureaucrats that "the era of hard work has begun."