President Ramaphosa’s 75 Ministers and Deputies cost South African taxpayers over R3 billion per year

An analysis of executive spending reveals that the annual cost to South African taxpayers for the National Executive, encompassing the President, Deputy President, Ministers, and Deputy Ministers, exceeds R3.1 billion annually. 

This eye-watering total includes salaries, support staff, VIP protection expenditure, and extensive travel costs, prompting immediate calls for legislative reform aimed at reducing government size.

The figures, compiled through research by ActionSA and parliamentary replies, highlight what the party describes as the lavish use of taxpayer funds at a time when millions of citizens face unemployment and essential services remain underfunded.

The foundation of executive expenditure lies in high salaries and extensive support staff structures. 

The President receives an annual salary of over R4 million, while the Deputy President’s salary is R3,164,654.

Below the top two positions, the costs escalate significantly based on staffing allocations outlined in the Ministerial Handbook:

• Ministers: Each Minister costs taxpayers approximately R8.9 million per year. This includes a salary of R2.69 million and R6.2 million dedicated to support staff salaries.
• Deputy Ministers: Each Deputy Minister costs around R7.4 million per year, comprising a salary of R2.215 million and R5.2 million for support staff salaries.

Taken together, the 32 Ministers and 43 Deputy Ministers, along with their respective support staff, result in an estimated annual cost of R603 million. 

This aggregate figure comprises R285 million for Ministers and R318 million for Deputy Ministers.

Security and travel costs

The single largest component contributing to the R3 billion total is VIP protection services. 

According to the Police Ministry’s budget, the total annual cost for VIP protection services for the President, Deputy President, Ministers, Deputy Ministers, and other dignitaries amounts to R2.18 billion.

Travel and accommodation are also major expense drivers. The Ministerial Handbook permits Ministers and deputy ministers to travel in business class for flights longer than two hours and to stay in five-star hotels or their equivalent. 

Analysts estimate that Ministers and Deputy Ministers spend R350 million annually on travel and accommodation combined. 

Furthermore, in the first year of the GNU (Government of National Unity), the National Executive recorded travel and accommodation costs reached R300 million.

Generous perks exclude annual totals

It is important to note that the R3.133 billion annual expenditure figure excludes the value of numerous generous perks and capital assets enjoyed by the executive.

These perks include the use of official state-owned residences:

• An official residence in Cape Town, with an average market value of R4.4 million.
• Access to a state-owned residence in Pretoria, valued on average at R2 million.

Additionally, the price threshold for official vehicles was recently increased under a Treasury instruction to R1.1 million. 

The combined market value of the residences available to Deputy Ministers alone is approximately R416 million, and the combined value of their official luxury vehicles can reach up to R82.5 million.

Proposed reforms aim for R1.5 billion savings

Calls to scrap South Africa’s 43 deputy ministers intensifies

Citing the vast expenditure and arguing that Deputy Ministers are merely “politically connected figureheads”, legislative changes have been proposed to curtail the costs. 

These interventions include a Constitutional Amendment to fully abolish the role of Deputy Minister and the Enhanced Cut Cabinet Perks Bill.

ActionsSA Parliamentary leader Athol Trollip said that this is designed to slash bloated costs and improve transparency around the Ministerial Handbook.

“These reforms are not symbolic. They are designed to save taxpayers an estimated R1.5 billion a year, right-size government, and reinvest in the priorities that matter: jobs, basic services, and infrastructure,” said Trollip.

“ActionSA will continue to fight for transparent, accountable governance, champion policies that reduce wasteful spending, and ensure that every rand of taxpayer money is used to benefit South Africans, not a cabinet bloated for political expediency.”

President Cyril Ramaphosa recently defended the role of deputy ministers, saying they are vital to government operations, though he acknowledged that a leaner executive would be preferable.

Responding to criticism that deputy ministers are redundant and inflate the executive’s size to 75 members, Ramaphosa said they “play a critical role” by working with ministers and senior officials to develop proposals before they reach cabinet.

Trollip challenged this, citing Ramaphosa’s decision to appoint an acting Police Minister from outside the executive and to leave the Deputy Minister of Trade position vacant as proof that the roles are unnecessary.

Ramaphosa replied that he too favours a smaller cabinet but said the current size results from the GNU formed after the 2024 elections.

He maintained that deputy ministers are “putting their shoulder to the wheel” despite the constraints of the arrangement.