Political parties have expressed disappointment with President Cyril Ramaphosa’s move to enlarge his Cabinet, after promising to significantly downsize the number of portfolios.

On Sunday Ramaphosa announced his much anticipated Cabinet, following the 2024 national and provincial elections which saw the African National Congress (ANC) losing it outright majority for the first time since 1994.

Ramaphosa announced the appointment of 32 Ministers and 42 Deputy Ministers, with Democratic Alliance (DA) leader John Steenhuisen and Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) leader Velenkosini Hlabisa being allocated ministerial positions.

According to the ANC, ten out of 18 parties with seats in the National Assembly have signed the Statement of Intent (SOl) – the ANC, DA, IFP, Patriotic Alliance; GOOD; Pan Africanist Congress of Azania; Freedom Front Plus; United Democratic Movement; Rise Mzansi and Al Jama-ah.

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) noted that Ramaphosa’s bloated Cabinet signalled more pressure on tax payers to allow for the accommodation of “racists and their policies in high position of power”.

“The announcement by Cyril Ramaphosa confirms that the ANC has abandoned its historical role as a liberation movement in Africa, and has solidified its role as an instrument of white supremacy and domestic and global capital on the continent,” said the EFF.

The party noted that by allocating the DA six ministerial posts, six deputy ministerial roles and the position of deputy speaker of the National Assembly, the ANC had surpassed the compromises they made in the historic 1994 administration.

ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba noted that the “bloated and compromised” Cabinet was a bad first impression for the new grand coalition and any intention of bringing meaningful reform to the politics that was voted out by a majority in this election. 

The party acknowledged that this announcement put an end to a period of great uncertainty for South Africans.

Mashaba highlighted that Ramaphosa’s Cabinet would collectively cost over R1-billion annually in benefits and perks, with R183-million allocated to salaries of Ministers and Deputy Ministers alone.

Among other perks afforded to Cabinet Ministers, taxpayers can expect to cover a R2.68-million salary for each Minister and R2.2-million for each Deputy Minister, he said.

On top of this, taxpayers will cover over R500-million for VIP protection and security and over R390-million for support staffing.

Mashaba said his party asserted that this new grand coalition government failed to put a reformist foot forward.

“…years of opposition parties publicly calling for a smaller Cabinet and the replacement of failed or implicated Ministers have been silenced. This is precisely why ActionSA believes, now more than ever, the voice of an uncompromised unofficial opposition is going to be required,” he said.

Build One South Africa said it was firmly opposed to extending patronage using Cabinet positions, calling for the removal of blue light brigades; VIP security detail; million-rand luxury cars; business class flights and travel and catering benefits.

GNU cabinet appointments attached.