Johannesburg: South Africa's new cabinet was sworn in Monday amid criticism for being bloated.
The proceedings got underway with President Jacob Zuma swearing in his deputy Cyril Ramaphosa in the presidential guest house in Pretoria, Xinhua reported.
Then Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng administered the oath of office to the 35 cabinet ministers who were appointed by Zuma Sunday.
Zuma announced the cabinet ministers as the country conclude its transition to a new administration following the fifth national general elections May 7.
To improve implementation and ensure impact, Zuma reconfigured some departments while others have been expanded to improve capacity.
One of the newly established departments is the ministry of telecommunications and postal services.
Zuma has also established a new communications ministry, which will be responsible for overarching communication policy and strategy, information dissemination and publicity as well as the branding of the country abroad.
The National Planning Commission as well as the performance monitoring and evaluation ministries in the presidency have been combined into one ministry to harmonise the planning and monitoring functions.
