Cape Town – President Cyril Ramaphosa has rejected calls to reduce or eliminate deputy minister positions despite concerns over South Africa’s bloated Cabinet.
According to Daily Investor, in response to EFF MP Omphile Maotwe, Ramaphosa said deputy ministers play vital roles and the larger Cabinet was necessary to accommodate the Government of National Unity (GNU) formed after the May 2024 elections.
He stressed the need for inclusivity across demographics and political parties.
“We have sought to ensure that the National Executive is representative of the people of South Africa, giving due consideration to gender, youth, demographics and regional distribution,” the report quoted Ramaphosa as saying.
“The Deputy Ministers appointed in June 2024 continue to add value to the work of government and to support in a meaningful way the implementation of the priorities of the 7th democratic administration.”
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Despite having a larger Cabinet, South Africa’s population (60 million) and economy (with a $405 billion GDP) are smaller than Germany’s, which has a population of 84 million and a GDP of $4 trillion.
However, the country’s Cabinet is smaller than those of China, Brazil, and India, which have significantly larger populations and economies.
The size of the Cabinet has been widely criticised, particularly when compared to that of more developed nations.
For example, the DA envisions a Cabinet of just 15 ministries by 2029, while the Centre for Development and Enterprise (CDE) has also advocated for significant reductions.
The CDE argues that the oversised Cabinet fuels wasteful spending, contributes to the fiscal crisis, and hampers efficient governance.
It suggests merging or eliminating several ministries, such as Public Works, Small Business Development, and Electricity, arguing that excessive bureaucracy has undermined governance.
“We are mindful of the political realities of a potential coalition government and the need for the President to accommodate various parties in his Cabinet. However, we believe that even within this constraint, it is possible to reduce the number of Cabinet Ministers and ensure the best people are selected for key portfolios,” said Ann Bernstein, executive director of CDE, in a statement in June 2024.
Meanwhile, the Outlier compared Ramaphosa’s current Cabinet with those of countries like Germany, the UK, China, Brazil, and India, noting that South Africa’s Cabinet is more than double the size of Germany’s, which has only 17 portfolios.
Despite having a larger Cabinet, South Africa’s population (60 million) and economy (with a $405 billion GDP) are smaller than Germany’s, which has a population of 84 million and a GDP of $4 trillion.
However, the country’s Cabinet is smaller than those of China, Brazil, and India, which have significantly larger populations and economies.
The DA has also highlighted the financial burden, revealing billions spent on staff and state housing for ministers and deputies.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
