The Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) took a breather on Tuesday after a strong run.
Share prices could have been digesting South African President Jacob Zuma's surprise decision to reshuffle his cabinet, for the second time this year.

The all-share index was down 0.48 percent to 57,882.67 points at close. The blue-chip top 40 index, following the same pattern, was 0.39 percent lower at 51,510.16 points. The industrial index was 0.38 percent lower, with the financial index also 0.74 percent softer, while the resources sector shed 0.48 percent.

Resources shares are supported by higher metal prices in anticipation of higher global growth. The gold index dropped 1.78 percent after the gold spot price advanced 0.95 percent at 1,282.45 U.S. dollars per ounce.

Richemont was 0.09 percent lower at R121.02, but British American Tobacco advanced 1.13 percent to settle at R864.49. Steinhoff lost 0.66 percent to R60.01. Discovery gained 0.28 percent to R143.8. Sanlam shed 0.77 percent to R71.75.

Iron producer Kumba gained more than 69 percent over the past 90 days. Gold Fields lost 1.71 percent to R55.16 and Harmony Gold 3.42 percent to R23.46. Impala Platinum dropped 2.65 percent to R31.59.