We only need these 15 ministries in South Africa: DA
DA leader Mmusi Maimane, has detailed the party’s vision to streamline national government to only 15 cabinet ministries, thereby saving R4.6 billion annually.
South Africa’s cabinet has moved from 16 ministries in 1996 to one of 35 – plus an additional 37 deputy ministers.
Speaking at the Cape Town Press Club on Thursday, Maimane said that the country should be taking its cue from countries around the world that are doing what they can to cut waste in difficult economic times.
“Take the recently elected President of Tanzania, John Magufuli, for example. He cut the budget for his opening of parliament by 90%, put a stop to business class travel for Ministers, banned non-essential overseas trips for officials, and cut the budget right down to the quality of the Christmas cards.”
Maimane said that if elected to national government, the DA would save R4.6 billion per year simply by re-organising the executive into a streamlined, delivery-oriented Cabinet of 15 ministries.
“We call it Operation Hlasela Mafutha or Cut the Fat,” he said.
“Let’s be honest: our Cabinet has become obscene. The staff, the bodyguards, the luxury cars, the first class flights, the food, the office refurbishments and the five star hotel stays. All status, no substance, and at the cost of billions of rands.
“We need to cut the fat. And we can start by reconfiguring ministries and departments with the single-minded objective of boosting economic growth and creating jobs,” the DA lead said.
In 1994, SA Cabinet consisted of 17 ministries, which was then reduced to just 16 in 1996.
However, under President Mbeki, this ballooned to 28 ministries. And today, under President Zuma, Cabinet consists of 35 ministries.
“Ours is one of the largest cabinets in the world. Not only do we have a President, a Deputy President and 35 Ministers, we also have 37 Deputy Ministers. That’s an executive of 74 people,” Maimane said.
The DA noted that the government’s spend on VIP protection alone amounted to more than R2 billion last year.
Currently the Public Sector wage Bill accounts for almost 40% of government expenditure.
Here are the 15 Ministries that would form the Cabinet in DA government:
- Employment & Enterprise
- Economic Infrastructure
- Finance
- Basic Education
- Further Education, Skills & Innovation
- Health and Social Development
- Integrated Planning and Service Delivery
- Police
- Local and Provincial Government
- Home Affairs
- Agriculture and Land Reform
- Justice and Correctional Services
- Environment
- Foreign Affairs
- Defence
Maimane said that some ministries, such as Finance, Police, Home Affairs, and Defence would remain unchanged, but others would be completely reassembled from existing ministries to ensure a streamlined and efficient focus.
As an example, a brand new Employment and Enterprise Ministry would be made up of Trade and Industry, Small Business Development, Economic Development, Mineral Resources, Tourism and Labour.
“This Ministry would have one goal, and that is to grow jobs,” Maimane said.
Similarly, a new Ministry of Economic Infrastructure would be tasked with managing the basic conditions of South Africa’s business environment. It would encompass, among others, the old Ministries of Communications, Telecommunications & Postal Services and Transport.
“Then, by combining the Human Settlements and Water & Sanitation with the Expanded Public Works Programme as well as various programmes from the Department of Public Works, we will create a Ministry of Integrated Planning and Service Delivery that can address issues ranging from service delivery to redressing the legacy of Apartheid spatial planning,” the DA said.
The political party stressed that Germany, for example, has 15 ministries, France has 16, China has 20, Russia 21, the US just 10.
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