The South African Chapter of the International Women’s Forum (IWFSA) has urged newly elected President Cyril Ramaphosa to promote gender equity in his cabinet by enlisting some of the country's finest and strongest women leaders to help meet the challenges faced by his administration.

“The IWFSA wishes to urge President Ramaphosa to continue the ANC’s [African National Congress's] record on promoting gender equity in the cabinet and enlist the services of some of our nation’s finest women capable of rising to the enormous challenges he and his government confront,” the IWFSA said in a statement.

“We believe there are women of proven ability, integrity and courage, fit for the daunting task that lies ahead. We, propose the following outstanding women and others of similar ilk to serve in a new cabinet and suggest that their appointment to cabinet would signal to South Africans that President Ramaphosa means business when he says he is committed to professional, ethical governance, Thuli Madonsela, Naledi Pandor, Lindiwe Sisulu, Makhosi Khoza, Cheryl Carolus, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka and more.”

Ramaphosa was elected as president by the National Assembly on Thursday after Jacob Zuma announced his resignation late on Wednesday night.

Ramaphosa is widely expected to reshuffle his cabinet.

Pandor and Sisulu currently serve in cabinet, while Mlambo-Ngcuka is a former deputy president of the country and currently serving as the Executive Director of United Nations Women.

Madonsela is South Africa's former public protector, while Carolus and Khoza were both anti-apartheid activists and outspoken critics of misrule and corruption under Zuma.

"Former ANC MP Khoza is a courageous, outspoken politician and an instinctive democrat. Rebuilding the trust of citizens requires people of honour in government who will not be silent in the face of abuse, and Khoza has shown herself to be such a woman," said IWFSA.