On 25 September 2008, the day after Thabo Mbeki's resignation, Kgalema Motlanthe was indirectly elected as the third President of South Africa.

[2][3] Because he was expected to serve only until the 2009 general election, Motlanthe's cabinet was widely referred to as a caretaker government.

[5] Baleka Mbete was newly appointed as Deputy President of South Africa, replacing Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, and seven new ministers joined the cabinet.

The reassigned ministers were Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, Charles Nqakula, and Brigitte Mabandla, who replaced, respectively, Essop Pahad, Mosiuoa Lekota, and Alec Erwin.

[6] After a short delay, on 5 November he appointed Nhlanhla Nene to the position of Deputy Minister of Finance, which had been vacated by Jabu Moleketi's resignation in September.