Pretoria - President Jacob Zuma axed three of his ministers in a Cabinet reshuffle on Tuesday.
Embattled Communication Minister Dina Pule, Human Settlements Minister Tokyo Sexwale and Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Richard Baloyi lost their jobs.
This is the fourth time Zuma has reshuffled his Cabinet since 2010.
Pule was replaced by Co-operative Governance Deputy Minister Yunus Carrim.
She has been embroiled in a battle with the Sunday Times about reports on allegations of corruption.
At a media briefing in April, she alleged that the Sunday Times was staging a smear and blackmail campaign against her.
In the newspaper's reports, she was accused of giving tenders to a boyfriend, meddling in tender processes, and interfering in the appointment of officials to the boards of state-owned enterprises.
Zuma announced that Sexwale would be replaced by African National Congress MP Connie September.
Sexwale was said to be part of the 'Forces of Change' which resisted Zuma's re-election as African National Congress president at the party's elective conference in Mangaung last year.
Sexwale lost his bid for the position of ANC deputy president and his seat on the party's national executive committee.
Baloyi, who has been an MP since 1999, was replaced by Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs Deputy Minister Lechesa Tsenoli.
Baloyi had been moved to co-operative governance from his position as public service and administration minister in Zuma's 2011 reshuffle.
After just a year as transport minister, Ben Martins becomes the new energy minister, swapping porfolios with Dipuo Peters.
Zuma also announced the appointments of four new deputy ministers.
ANC MP John Jeffrey was appointed as deputy minister of justice, taking over from Andries Nel, who takes up the position of deputy minister of co-operative governance and traditional affairs.
Another ANC MP Michael Masutha was appointed deputy minister of science and technology, a position which was vacated last year with the appointment of Derek Hanekom as minister of science and technology.
Hanekom replaced Naledi Pandor, who was made home affairs minister, following the appointment of Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma as African Union commission chairwoman.
MP Pamela Tshwete was appointed deputy minister of rural development, following Carrim's appointment as communication minister.
Zuma said the new ministers and deputies would be sworn in on Wednesday.
The new ministers and deputy ministers are:
* Lechesa Tsenoli, Minister of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs;
* Connie September, Minister of Human Settlements;
* Yunus Carrim, Minister of Communications;
* Ben Martins, Minister of Energy;
* Dipuo Peters, Minister of Transport;
* John Jeffery, Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development;
* Michael Masutha, Deputy Minister of Science and Technology;
* Andries Nel, Deputy Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs; and
* Pamela Tshwete, Deputy Minister of Rural Development and Land Reform. - Sapa