South Africa’s New President Shuffles Cabinet, With an Eye to the Past

JOHANNESBURG—New South African President Cyril Ramaphosa demoted or ousted important allies of his predecessor and reappointed to his cabinet several of the former president’s most ardent critics.

Key among the new cabinet members announced on Monday is Nhlanhla Nene, who is returning as finance minister after former President Jacob Zuma dismissed him in December 2015. Mr. Nene, an economist popular with investors and corporate executives, will be joined in the cabinet by Pravin Gordhan, another former finance chief Mr. Zuma...