Qa'dah 23, 1431 H/Oct 31, 2010, SPA -- The ministers in charge of state-owned businesses and public works were among those changed Sunday in a Cabinet shuffle President Jacob Zuma said would speed change in the lives of poor South Africans. Zuma announced at a news conference in the capital, Pretoria, that a third of the Cabinet was being changed, saying: «Government has to work at a faster pace to change the lives of the poor.», according to AP. South African media had been speculating for weeks about a shuffle in the 34-minister Cabinet. Zuma named 10 new ministers and also added deputies in several areas including the police ministry. South Africa's high levels of violent crime have been a political issue. The mining ministry, which has been plagues by charges of corruption and mismanagement, also got a deputy. Mining contributes a third of the country's export revenues, Zuma noted Sunday. Most of South Africa's black majority remains poor 16 years after the end of apartheid, and pledges to improve their lives dominated Zuma's campaign last year. He led his African National Congress party to overwhelming victory, and has been under pressure since taking office in May 2009 to make his promises reality.
