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The Democratic Alliance (DA) welcomes the cabinet reshuffle announced today by President Jacob Zuma. The move is a positive indication of renewed focus on accountability, and a particularly welcome development in light of the fact that under former President Mbeki, no significant changes were made to the composition of the executive.

President Zuma has made a number of positive adjustments to his cabinet- most notably his decision to remove Communications Minister, Siphiwe Nyanda, Minister of Women, Children and People with Disabilities, Noluthando Mayende-Sibiya, Minister of Public Service and Administration, Richard Baloyi and Minister of Labour, Membathisi Mdladlana.

These ministers did not perform, and President Zuma made the right decision to remove them from their positions.

While the cabinet reshuffle makes an important statement about the Zuma administration's commitment to improving this government's performance, it is important that accountability not be used as a guise to implement a political agenda. The removal of Public Enterprises Minister Barbara Hogan, for instance, is surprising, given that Ms. Hogan has certainly been one of the most competent ministers in the Zuma cabinet. Is she being relieved of her duties because she is also one of the most outspoken? The DA equally notes with concern that former Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, Malusi Gigaba, has been chosen to replace Ms. Hogan in this most important of portfolios. Mr. Gigaba has lurched from one controversy to the next at Home Affairs, and should the President have used this opportunity to remove some of his harshest critics, then that is the patently a misguided approach.

Equally injudicious is the appointment of outgoing Arts and Culture Minister Lulu Xingwana to the portfolio of Women, Children and People with Disabilities. Quite how the President believes Ms. Xingwana is the most appropriate person to lead a ministry concerned in large part with gender issues, given the homophobic remarks made by her earlier this year, is unclear.

The President has also missed an opportunity to address the poor performance of a number of ministers. Such ministers include the Minister of Higher Education and Training Blade Nzimande, whose woeful performance has been characterized by an inability to take the tough decisions necessary to turn around the fortunes of his department.