Cut the Cabinet

SIGN THE PETITION TO SUPPORT OUR FIGHT TO CUT THE CABINET

ActionSA has introduced two bold legislative actions in Parliament: the enhanced Cut Cabinet Perks Bill and a constitutional amendment to abolish the position of Deputy Minister and strengthen Parliamentary oversight of Cabinet appointments. These proposals are designed to reduce wasteful government spending and ensure that Ministers are appointed based on merit, accountability, and a clear commitment to public service—not political patronage.

Cut the Cabinet

*This is an official petition hosted by ActionSA.

Constitution Twenty-Second Amendment Bill

ActionSA has gazetted the Constitution Twenty-Second Amendment Bill, a bold and unprecedented step toward reforming South Africa’s bloated and inefficient Executive. If passed, this Amendment would represent the most significant overhaul of the national Cabinet since the dawn of democracy in 1994.

At the heart of the Amendment is the complete abolition of the role of Deputy Ministers, a move that will eliminate 43 redundant positions and save the country billions of rands. Deputy Ministers have become nothing more than politically connected figureheads – glorified doormen and women – who serve party interests rather than the public good.

This Constitutional Amendment is driven by ActionSA’s commitment to professionalising government, enhancing accountability, and restoring public trust in Cabinet appointments.

Key elements of the Constitutional Amendment include:

Abolishes the role of Deputy Minister entirely, saving South Africa billions. These roles are redundant and have no meaningful function in governance beyond rewarding political allies.
Mandates parliamentary vetting of all Cabinet appointments. Gone are the days of late-night reshuffles and recycled appointments without transparency or oversight.
Enables the National Assembly to remove Ministers through a motion of no confidence. If the President won’t act, Parliament now can — a crucial step to enforce accountability.
Increases the number of Ministers who can be appointed from outside Parliament from two to four. This allows skilled professionals and subject-matter experts to serve in Cabinet, bringing fresh expertise into government.

Email your support of the bill by 24 August 2025 to speaker@parliament.gov.za and copied to parliament@actionsa.org.za

ActionSA is proud to announce the formal Introduction of the Enhanced Cut Cabinet Perks Bill. This is a bold intervention to slash the bloated costs of one of the world’s largest Cabinets and bring long-overdue oversight to the secretive Ministerial Handbook.

After extensive public consultation—including numerous of submissions from ordinary South Africans—and with endorsements from civil society organisations, the Enhanced Cut Cabinet Perks Bill now includes the following key reforms:

Ends the President’s unilateral power to amend the Ministerial Handbook without oversight.
Requires all changes to be reviewed by the Independent Commission for the Remuneration of Public Office Bearers, with regard to prevailing economic conditions.
Mandates full accountability to Parliament, compelling the President to report all amendments to the National Assembly.
Demands transparency through the publication of any changes on the Presidency’s official website within 30 days.
Requires a full parliamentary review of all Cabinet and Presidential perks immediately—and every five years thereafter.

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.