Zuma unlikely to downsize cabinet: report
President Jacob Zuma said he would “look at” downsizing his bloated Cabinet, after it was suggested in a meeting with business leaders on the South African economy.
Zuma recently met with South African business leaders, looking at ways for the country to dig itself out of economic turmoil and avoid a ratings downgrade to junk status.
However, industry and political insiders said that the president is unlikely to actually make the move to cut ministers – especially not in an election year where party support is vital.
According to the City Press, citing an executive which attended the meetings, Zuma didn’t answer the question on his Cabinet size, saying only that “we’re going to look at it – we’ve got measures to look at continued cost cutting.”
His statements were confirmed by other executives attending the meeting, the paper reported- however, the sentiment was that the suggestion would not make the final cut of strategies to be executed.
South Africa’s Cabinet is one of the largest in the world when compared to peers and other leading economies, and is considered by many to be unnecessarily bloated.
Zuma’s Cabinet has increased from 64 members (including ministers and deputy ministers) in 2009, to 75 in 2016.
Opposition party, the Democratic Alliance says that the country needs only 15 ministries, which would save R4.6 billion per year simply by re-organising the executive into a streamlined, delivery-oriented Cabinet.
“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,” said DA leader Mmusi Maimane.
“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.”
You can read the full report in the City Press for 21 February 2016
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