[1] The ANC had won a comfortable majority in the National Assembly and the Constitution of 1996 did not make any formal provision for power-sharing, but Mbeki opted informally to extend Mandela's Government of National Unity by maintaining IFP representation in the cabinet, in exchange for a similar form of power-sharing in Lionel Mtshali's KwaZulu-Natal Executive Council.

The first such reshuffle was occasioned when Joe Nhlanhla, the Minister of Intelligence Services, suffered a debilitating stroke in 2000.

[8][9] In December 2002, at the ANC's 51st National Conference, Minister Sankie Mthembi-Mahanyele was elected to the full-time position of ANC Deputy Secretary General and consequently resigned from the cabinet in the New Year.

[10] In February 2003, Brigitte Mabandla was appointed to replace her as Minister of Housing.

[11] Finally, the Minister of Transport, Dullah Omar, died in March 2004.