South African President Cyril Ramaphosa’s cabinet reshuffle aims to reinvigorate economic reforms while consolidating more personal control amid factionalism within his ruling African National Congress (ANC). But Ramaphosa will still struggle to implement those reforms as the pandemic and socio-economic stress in South Africa endures. T he Aug. 4 reshuffle is Ramaphosa’s first since the 2019 presidential elections and saw more than one-third of his cabinet replaced. The move comes a month after the arrest of former President Jacob Zuma triggered violent unrest in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal provinces . The Ministry of State Security — South Africa’s intelligence and national security ministry — was disbanded with its functions being transferred to the presidency. Ramapohsa also fired the country’s long-time defense minister, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, who had held the post since 2012. Enoch Godongwana was named finance minister after Tito Mboweni asked to be replaced.