Pretoria – President Jacob Zuma said his Cabinet reshuffle last week was in part to put young people in leadership positions.
Zuma was speaking during the unveiling of the Trans-African Locomotive at Transnet's Engineering Centre in Koedoespoort in Silverton on Tuesday morning.
"In the past week I made changes to the national executive. We expect the changes to add renewed energy to the cabinet and executive," he said.
"We are proud of having added many young ministers which is an investment in the future of the government leadership."
He said if young MPs weren't allowed to gain experience, there would be a leadership crisis in the future.
Zuma was speaking on his late night controversial Cabinet reshuffle last Thursday where Pravin Gordhan was unexpectedly replaced by Malusi Gigana as finance minister.
On Monday night, Standard and Poor's downgraded South Africa to junk status.