JOHANNESBURG — President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa on Wednesday reappointed a power broker long accused of corruption as his deputy, a fresh blow to hopes for a new cabinet free of the most tainted figures in the governing African National Congress.

The fate of the deputy president, David Mabuza, had been regarded as a test of Mr. Ramaphosa’s ability to clean up his party and the government. The appointment makes Mr. Mabuza second in command in South Africa’s government and the leading contender to succeed Mr. Ramaphosa as president.

“It’s more of the same,” said Ralph Mathekga, a prominent political analyst. “It’s a compromised cabinet.”

“The strength of this presidency depends on Mabuza. He’s too powerful not to be deputy,” said Mr. Mathekga, the author of “Ramaphosa’s Turn: Can Cyril Save South Africa?”