Pretoria - A new ministry has been created to focus on women, youth and children, including people with disability, President Jacob Zuma announced on Sunday.
The ministry is part of many changes announced by the president as he unveiled his Cabinet following his inauguration on Saturday.
President Zuma said the ministry would help emphasise the need for equity and access to development opportunities for the vulnerable groups of society.
It's not clear yet whether the ministry, to be headed by Noluthando Mayende-Sibiya, would be based in the Presidency or not.
Ms Mayende-Sibiya served as President of the National Education Health and Allied Workers Union.
Earlier this year, the outgoing Minister in the Presidency Manto-Tshabalala Msimang spoke about the realignment of the national policy framework for women's empowerment and gender equality.
This, Ms Tshabalala Msimang said, would give rise to the establishment of the Ministry for Women and Gender Affairs and a women's fund.
Meanwhile, President Zuma said he expected markets to react positively to the appointment of Pravin Gordhan as the new Finance minister.
"I cannot predict the markets and I am not certain there are people who can easily do so. I am sure, if you wanted my prediction; the markets will react very positively, very normally," the president said.
Outgoing Finance Minister Trevor Manuel has served in the position for more than ten years and is the longest serving minister of finance.
