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ActionSA notes reports suggesting that the ANC/DA+ coalition could be planning to expand the size of an already bloated cabinet which is not only a reversal of President Ramaphosa’s commitment to reduce the number of ministries but also an abrupt U-turn on the DA's commitment to cut down a cabinet they once referred to as a wasteful ‘Patronage Cabinet’.

With 30 serving ministers and 36 deputy ministers, costing taxpayers over R146 million annually in salaries alone, President Cyril Ramaphosa’s previous promise to downsize the cabinet has clearly amounted to no real intention to fulfil the promise he made in February 2018 during the SONA.

The hypocrisy of the possible planned expansion marks what we believe to be the first of many compromises that will feature in the term ahead, undoubtedly undermining public trust and further entrenching a culture of political patronage. More than anything, this contradicts the very commitments to curb profligacy and the principles of accountability and transparency that both President Ramaphosa and the DA have previously advanced.

ActionSA views this as confirmation of our concerns regarding the haste with which the DA and others sought to vacate the opposition benches for a seat at the table with the ANC, particularly concerning the resulting compromises that will see the best interests of South Africans being sacrificed for political expediency.

ActionSA opposes any plan to expand the size of an already bloated cabinet and urges the ruling coalition to reduce the number of government departments to approximately 20 and to eliminate unnecessary deputy minister positions in all departments. We believe this will free up funds to be redirected towards critical areas like service delivery and the maintenance of critical economic infrastructure.

Issued by ActionSA Parliamentary Caucus Leader Athol Trollip