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ActionSA has initiated a series of Parliamentary Questions directed at every Cabinet Minister and Deputy Minister, seeking detailed lists of the names, qualifications, and competencies of all Ministerial and Deputy Ministerial support staff appointments. This follows recent revelations exposing apparent disregard for minimum qualification criteria and what appears to be nothing more than cadre deployment, particularly highlighted by the latest controversy within the Agriculture Ministry.  

As outlined in the Public Service Act, political appointments to ministerial offices are regulated by minimum standards of qualifications and experience, stipulations necessary to ensure that ministerial offices are capacitated with skilled personnel who can effectively execute their mandates. Exceptions to the rule, which do occur under special circumstances, must in every instance be fully justified and motivated before being considered for exemption. 

Concerningly, the circumvention of these standards is becoming increasingly prevalent, with Ministers requesting deviations to make parochial appointments of apparently unqualified or under qualified and inexperienced individuals to key positions. This practice is highly likely to be occurring across most if not all Ministries.

It’s ironical that in a coalition built on compromise, some parties that previously bemoaned the practice of cadre deployment seem now to have turned cadre deployment from a condemned practice into a one that they now embrace, with ministerial offices now filled to the brim with party loyalists and cronies/cadres.

The abandonment of meritocracy in favour of patronage is deeply troubling, as it underscores the risk of sacrificing professionalism for political loyalty and expediency. ActionSA believes that the public deserves transparency and accountability, and this is why we are asking questions to ascertain the appropriateness of all appointments and the qualifications of all ministerial staff appointments since the cabinet announcement on 30 June, including detailed information on their educational backgrounds, professional experience, and any deviations from standard appointment procedures.

ActionSA remains committed to upholding the principles of good governance, transparency, and accountability and will continue to hold every Minister to the highest standards to ensure that the interests of South Africans are always placed first.

Issued by ActionSA Parliamentary Chief Lerato Ngobeni