First priorities for the GNU

Improving health care, education, job creation also cited.

- Hein Kaiser

It will be sink or swim for the new Cabinet in the government of national unity (GNU) once new ministers, their deputies and directors-general enter office. The country is expecting change and won't settle for anything less.

DA leader John Steenhuisen, expected to play a key role in the new Cabinet, said: "The low-hanging fruit in the first instance would be the shift in sentiment.

"We already saw sentiment start to shift when the agreement was first announced: on the day when the president was elected, with the rise in the rand and a huge rise in the stocks of all South African companies," he said.

Wayne Duvenage of Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa) said it would be imperative for immediate consultation with civil society and business.

"There must be immediate cooperation towards improvements, as well as an exposé of inefficiencies," he said.

Law school head Daniel Govender of Regent School of Business stressed the importance of strengthening democratic institutions within national, provincial and local government and nurturing public trust.

Managing director Ray Langa of the Leagas Delaney Group said that the GNU must immediately address South Africa's economic challenges and implement key initiatives. "First and foremost is job creation.