Jacob Zuma kept his cabinet guessing with 12 reshuffles, including two last year. Altogether he made 68 ministerial changes.
Most spectacularly, he fired finance minister Nhlanhla Nene shortly after 8pm on Wednesday December 9 2015, replacing him with the unknown Des van Rooyen, which sent the rand plunging more than 5% in a day. Van Rooyen lasted four days before Zuma returned Pravin Gordhan to the National Treasury.
In October last year, Zuma swapped six ministers, most notably axing SACP general secretary Blade Nzimande, which followed calls by the SACP and union leaders for Zuma to step down.
In March, Zuma fired five ministers, including Gordhan and his deputy, Mcebisi Jonas. They were replaced by Malusi Gigaba and Sfiso Buthelezi.
Zuma's first reshuffle was in October 2010, when two ministers were reassigned, seven replaced, and 17 new deputy ministers named. Axed ministers included Barbara Hogan and Siphiwe Nyanda. Newcomers included Bathabile Dlamini, Fikile Mbalula and Paul Mashatile.
In October 2011, Zuma booted out Gwen Mahlangu-Nkabinde and Sicelo Shiceka, both of whom had featured in a damning report by public protector Thuli Madonsela.
In July 2013, he fired communications minister Dina Pule after reports of irregular spending activities. Other casualties were Tokyo Sexwale and Richard Baloyi.
Deck chairs continued to fly during Zuma's second term, beginning in 2014 with a raft of changes, most notably a new deputy president in Cyril Ramaphosa. The national executive also grew by 10 members to 74 from 64 due to the creation of portfolios.
The average lifespan of a cabinet under Zuma was about eight months...