Pretoria - President Jacob Zuma announced a major cabinet reshuffle on Sunday, removing ten ministers including those responsible for communications and labour.
Zuma removed Barbara Hogan as minister of public enterprises and Siphiwe Nyanda as communications minister.
Hogan will be replaced by Malusi Gigaba, who is currently deputy minister of home affairs, Zuma told reporters in Cape Town today. Nyanda will be replaced by Roy Padayachee, he said.
Zuma told a press conference that the reshuffle was aimed at strengthening government ministries and to help improve the provision of basic services and improve the lives of the poor.
"We have taken a long and hard look at some departments with a view to strengthen some ministries and noted some of them needed additional deputy ministers to assist them in their duties," Zuma said when announcing the reshuffle in the presidential guest house in Pretoria.
Media had been speculating for weeks about a Cabinet shuffle.
Zuma also added deputies in several ministries, including police.
"We had to change the way government works in order to improve service delivery. Our mission was guided by improving the quality of the lives of South Africans," he said.