Actionsa Calls For Constitutional Changes To Abolish Deputy Ministers

ActionSA says that it will table a motion for a Constitutional Amendment, to entirely abolish deputy ministers from the cabinet structure by amending and repealing some sections of the constitution .

The party is referring to Sections 91 and 93.

It says a large cabinet has proved to be ineffective in the country.

It has cited the Government of National Unity GNU whose squabbles led to the Finance Ministers failure to table the countrys budget last month as one of the problems .

"We have the biggest cabinet in the world, with 32 ministers and 43 deputy ministers. Theres no evidence that this massive number of deputy ministers makes any difference. Two- weeks ago, the Minister of Finance couldnt table his budget, because the GNU couldnt agree on how to balance the budget. We need to show by example, that were prepared to cut the fat, to save an increase in VAT and theres just too much fat in government, and the fattest part of government- is having this many deputy ministers. Section 93 of the Constitution says that the president may appoint deputy ministers, it doesnt say that the president must appoint them," says ActionSAs Parliamentary Leader Athol Trollip.