Ramaphosa defends high number of deputy ministers in his executive
With 43 deputy ministers in the seventh administration, political parties including ActionSA and Build One South Africa (BOSA) have been appealing to the president to trim his executive to save money.
FILE: Newly sworn-in Cabinet ministers pose for a photo with Chief Justice Raymond Zondo and President Cyril Ramaphosa on 3 July 2024. Picture: GCIS
CAPE TOWN - President Cyril Ramaphosa has defended the high number of deputy ministers in his executive, saying they do valuable work and they ensure the executive is representative of all parties in the Government of National Unity (GNU).
With 43 deputy ministers in the seventh administration, political parties including ActionSA and Build One South Africa (BOSA) have been appealing to the president to trim his executive to save money.
But in answer to a written parliamentary question from the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), Ramaphosa has not given any indication that he plans to heed this call.
As an alternative proposal to a value-added tax (VAT) increase and as part of a review of government spending, ActionSA plans to table a bill to amend the Constitution to abolish deputy ministers completely. In another bill, the party wants to cut perks for ministers.
The party estimates that R1.5 billion can be saved.
But in response to a parliamentary question from the EFF's Omphile Maotwe on whether the president plans to reduce or eliminate some positions in line with promises he's made since becoming president in 2018 and to reduce the prevailing fiscal pressures, Ramaphosa showed no intent.
The president said that since the advent of democracy, deputy ministers had played an important role in assisting ministers in performing their functions and responsibilities.
He goes on to say that in some portfolios with a wide range of responsibilities, deputy ministers take these on in certain areas of work, ensuring there's consistent political attention and oversight.
Some portfolios, such as police and trade, industry and competition, have two deputy ministers as part of a deal to offer positions to all Government of National Unity partners.
"In announcing appointments to the national executive following the May 2024 elections, I indicated that due to the need to ensure that the national executive is inclusive of all the parties to the Government of National Unity, it was not possible to reduce the number of portfolios in the national executive," read Ramaphosa's response.
In neighbouring Namibia, new President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah in March trimmed her country's cabinet from 21 to just 14 ministries, with only seven deputy ministers across them.
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