Cyril Ramaphosa Insists Deputy Ministers Are Useful Amid Calls To Trim The Executive

President Cyril Ramaphosa says deputy ministers serve an important role in government by assisting ministers to perform their work.

He was responding to a recent parliamentary question from Economic Freedom Fighters EFF member of Parliament Omphile Maotwe.

Maotwe had asked whether the positions of deputy ministers are necessary given South Africas constrained fiscal framework. She also asked whether the President intends to reduce and/or eliminate the positions.

"In portfolios with a wide range of responsibilities, deputy ministers are given responsibility for certain areas of work in terms of departments' annual performance plans, ensuring that there is consistent political attention and oversight, Ramaphosa said in a written reply.

"The deputy ministers appointed in June 2024 continue to add value to the work of government and to support in a meaningful way the implementation of the priorities of the 7th democratic administration,"

The government of national unitys GNU Executive includes Ramaphosa, Deputy President Paul Mashatile, 32 ministers and 43 deputy ministers.

Critics say this is bloated, but the President argues that constituting the GNU required inclusivity.

"We have sought to ensure that the national executive is representative of the people of South Africa, giving due consideration to gender, youth, demographics and regional distribution, he wrote.

In a recent reply in Parliament, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana revealed that the total allocation for all new ministries and deputy ministries amounts to R239 million in 2025/2026.

The allocation is for salaries of the Executive, cost of support staff, official vehicles and goods and services, he added.