FEDUSA CALLS ON PRESIDENT RAMAPHOSA TO REDUCE INCOMING SIXTH CABINET
18 May 2019
The Leadership of the Federation of Unions of South Africa (FEDUSA) has appealed to President Ramaphosa as the Executive Authority of the Republic, to reduce the size of the incoming sixth National Executive or Cabinet, a process he is currently engaged in. FEDUSA firmly believes that a reduction of the 34 Cabinet Ministers to a more sustainable and rational one of only 25 Ministers, in line with the widely accepted status of our nation as a developing country, will attempt to address the battling ravages of poverty, unemployment and inequality.
The ballooning of the National Executive from 24 members at the dawn of democracy in April 1994 to 34 Ministers at present, has not been accompanied by effective economic and administrative governance as painfully demonstrated by the persistence of violent service delivery protests that have often resulted in the unfortunate loss of lives and wanton destruction of state property, infrastructure and assets running into billions of Rands.
FEDUSA remains resolute that promises outlined during President Ramaphosa’s maiden State of the Nation Address (SONA) that growth, development and transformation depends on a committed, strong, capable and credible government, must be upheld. FEDUSA supports the notion that it is critical that the structure and size of the state is optimally suited to meet the needs of our people and to ensure the most efficient allocation of public resources. In stark contrast to Europe with Germany, having 12 ministers and in Africa, Botswana having 15 ministers, South Africa must remedy the situation with immediate and strategic intent.
FEDUSA further insists that Ministers who have been found by our Courts to have lied under oath and / or implicated in state capture allegations, must not be considered for reappointment as such a development will only serve to undermine the government’s stated objective of routing out corruption and commitment to clean and constitutional governance.
In parallel with reducing Cabinet to a lean and efficient size, Deputy Ministers should only be appointed in key, strategic departments, reducing it to a bare minimum of only five appointments. Financing developmental needs such as health care, education, and infrastructure should therefore remain key priorities to which progressive outcomes can be achieved through this strategic implementation of a leaner and meaner Cabinet.
Ends
(372 Words)
For interviews please contact:
Masale Godfrey Selematsela
FEDUSA President
065 652 2832 / 083 653 3021
Riefdah Ajam
FEDUSA Acting General Secretary
079 696 2626
Issued by:
Frank Nxumalo
FEDUSA Media and Research Officer
072 637 8096
