DA mum on its past plan to have only 15 ministers

Since joining the Government of National Unity (GNU) in June 2024, the Democratic Alliance (DA) has kept mum on its past plans to cut the size of cabinet to 15 ministers.

On June 30, 2024, President Cyril Ramaphosa appointed South Africa’s largest-ever national executive, following a coalition deal after no party won a majority in the elections. 

The ANC, with about 40% of the vote, formed a “Government of National Unity” with nine other parties including the DA. 

Despite earlier promises to reduce the Cabinet size, Ramaphosa expanded it to 32 ministers and 43 deputy ministers, citing coalition needs.

This included, for the first time, DA ministers of Agriculture, Basic Education, Communications and Digital Technologies, Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Home Affairs, and Public Works and Infrastructure.

When the DA was still the country’s official opposition, it long called for a much slimmer national executive.

In its policy document, Vision 2029, the DA said that “South Africa must radically rethink the shape and function of government, from the top down,” starting with a “nimble, cost-effective executive” to tackle unemployment and poverty.

The party proposed streamlining to 15 ministries, aligned with “spending priorities that promote economic growth and job creation,” saving “an estimated R4.7 billion each year.”

“What South Africa needs is fewer ministries that work efficiently toward the right mix of priorities, that deliver services, are responsive to citizens, and that spend South Africa’s money productively,” it noted in the document.

“Not on excessive ministerial perks or on fruitless and wasteful endeavours,” it added.

Their original 15 minister plan

The DA said that it would reduce the Cabinet to 15 ministries, consolidating overlapping departments to improve efficiency, focus, and accountability, and to direct spending towards economic growth priorities.

Ministry	Mandates / Focus Areas	Notes / Changes
Employment & Enterprise	Trade, Small Business, Economic Development, Minerals, Tourism, Labour	Merge overlapping ministries for coherent economic growth and job creation
Economic Infrastructure	Communications, ICT, Transport, SOEs (Transnet, SAA, SA Express)	Collapse Communications and Telecom into one; transfer SOEs management to Transport
Finance	Finance	Remains unchanged
Basic Education	Basic Education, School Sport	Merge school sports into education; dissolve Sports Ministry
Further Education, Skills & Innovation	Higher Education, Science & Technology, Arts & Culture	Merge to boost skills training, R&D, and innovation
Health & Social Development	Health, Social Development	Merge for integrated health and welfare services
Integrated Planning & Service Delivery	Human Settlements, Water & Sanitation, Public Works functions, Spatial Planning	Combine for improved housing, infrastructure, and service delivery
Police	Police	Remains unchanged
Local & Provincial Government	Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs	New ministry replacing CoGTA
Home Affairs	Home Affairs	Remains unchanged
Agriculture & Land Reform	Agriculture, Rural Development, Land Reform	Merge for food security, successful land reform, and rural development
Justice & Correctional Services	Justice, Correctional Services	Remains unchanged
Environment	Environmental Affairs, Energy, Forestry, Fisheries	Merge for sustainable resource management and energy security
Foreign Affairs	International Relations	Remains unchanged
Defence	Defence	Remains unchanged

Why cut the cabinet?

According to the policy document, the DA says a bloated Cabinet harms growth and jobs by driving excessive government spending beyond the optimal level, which slows private sector investment and innovation.

They link a large Cabinet and over-30% GDP spending to corruption and patronage, with ministerial posts used to reward allies.

This growth fuels rent-seeking, wastes resources, increases debt, and leads to higher taxes that hurt job creation and investment.

The DA also criticised the over R2 billion yearly on VIP protection, suggesting funds could better support bursaries, housing, education, or policing.

They urged slimming the Executive to reduce waste, curb patronage, and boost economic growth and jobs.

‘On the gravy train’

Since moving from the opposition benches to the steps of the Union Building, the party’s vocal opposition to South Africa’s large cabinet has quietened down.

Newsday repeatedly attempted to get hold of DA spokespeople to see if they still support their Vision 2029 Policy, but was ignored.

However, Solly Malatsi, the DA’s former national spokesperson and Communications minister, previously told News24 that the size of the Cabinet was the president’s prerogative.

“We find ourselves in a unique era of a coalition government, in which the size of the Cabinet has been determined by the president,” said Malatsi.

ActionSA MP Alan Beesley told Newsday that his party believes that “the DA has had a taste for the power, perks, and blue lights which result in one’s tune changing very quickly.”

It is estimated that salaries, staff, and related perks for South Africa’s ministers and deputies will cost the taxpayer billions.

Since July 2024, over R273 million has been spent on travel for ministers and their support teams, excluding three ministries who have not yet disclosed their costs.

ActionSA has tabled the Enhanced Cut Cabinet Perks Bill, advocating for 20 ministers and no deputies.

“An earlier version of this Bill was introduced by Dr Leon Schreiber in 2023 during the 6th Administration, rightly highlighting the unchecked perks enjoyed by ministers and deputy ministers,” noted ActionSA.

However, that Bill quietly lapsed when the DA joined the GNU at the start of the 7th Administration.

Beesley says cutting the bloated cabinet is essential because it could save taxpayers over R1 billion in costs, and reduce overlapping roles that currently undermine management and accountability.

There have been reports about the ANC working a deal to try involve ActionSA into the GNU.

In response, Beesley said that “ActionsSA would never join and be part of a bloated cabinet. Cutting the size of the cabinet would be a non-negotiable before ActionsSA would consider joining.”