President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the composition of the national executive last week at the Union Buildings.

He revealed that the number of Cabinet portfolios would be trimmed down from 36 to 28.

The president reduced 14 ministries down to seven and the department of Human Settlements was combined with Water and Sanitation.

The new minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation is Lindiwe Sisulu and her deputies are Pam Tshwete and David Mahlobo.

Sisulu has impressive political and academic credentials.

An MK activist, Sisulu has a doctorate from the University of York among her qualifications, more importantly; she comes from a pedigreed ANC family, with parents Walter and Albertina Sisulu playing key roles in bringing apartheid to an end.

Sisulu has been a Member of Parliament since 1994 and member of the National Executive Committee of the African National Congress.

She served as Minister of Housing from 2004 to 2009, as Minister of Defence and Military Veterans from 2009 to 2012 and was Minister of Public Service and Administration from 2012–2014.