Pretoria - Being in power for 17 months, President Jacob Zuma says has given him the opportunity to be able to ascertain what worked and what needed to be changed or strengthened in his Cabinet.
He was responding to a question in Parliament from a Freedom Front Plus MP, who asked if the changes recently made to the Zuma administration, will bring about improved service delivery.
In October, Zuma axed seven ministers, two were moved into other ministerial posts, and 14 new deputies were appointed.
Zuma said the structures of Cabinet and national departments were re-organised to achieve better alignment in a manner that would pay attention to developmental challenges.
"We were guided by the mission of our government, which is to improve the quality of life of all South Africans, especially the poor, working with all our people," he told MPs on Thursday.
The President also thanked former members of Cabinet for their contribution to government and nation during their term of office.
The new Cabinet has been welcomed, with bodies such as the Congress of South African Trade Unions urging them to bring down unacceptable levels of unemployment, poverty and inequality.
However, some have raised concerns that the expanded Cabinet will cost more to maintain.
