[4][5] On 9 December 2015, Zuma sacked Nhlanhla Nene as Minister of Finance and replaced him with the little-known backbencher Des van Rooyen.

[6][7] After an extremely negative response from the markets and from segments of the ANC,[8][9] Zuma reversed his decision and announced on 13 December that Pravin Gordhan would replace van Rooyen after only four days in office; van Rooyen in turn took Gordhan's place as Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs.

[13] Senior ANC leaders, including Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa, severely criticised the reshuffle.

[14] The so-called #ZumaMustFall protests the following week voiced public opposition to the changes.

During the term of Zuma's second cabinet, they were, like the cabinet, appointed on 25 May 2014,[1] with the exception of Deputy Minister Zanele kaMagwaza-Msibi, the leader of the National Freedom Party, whose appointment was announced on 5 June 2014.