President-in-waiting Jacob Zuma is expected to announce his Cabinet soon after his inauguration as President this weekend.

"The President is expected to appoint and announce his new Cabinet by 10 May, 2009," government spokesperson Themba Maseko said on Tuesday.

The newly appointed Cabinet members would be sworn in as Ministers and Deputy Ministers on Monday, May 11,in Pretoria.

Maseko said preparations for Zuma's inauguration were proceeding according to plan and about 5 000 dignitaries were expected to attend the ceremony at the Union Buildings on Saturday.

About 30 000 people were expected to attend and witness the inauguration at the South Lawns of the Union Buildings, he said.

Zuma will be elected by members of the National Assembly on Wednesday and will be President-elect until he is sworn in.

Maseko said President Kgalema Motlanthe would remain President of the Republic until the new President assumed office on Saturday.

In terms of Section 87 of the Constitution, the President could not be a Member of Parliament (MP) and it was for this reason that Motlanthe would not be sworn in as a MP along with all other new members on Wednesday.

The term of office of the outgoing Cabinet would also come to an end when the newly elected President assumed office.