As South Africa faces a deepening fiscal crisis, ActionSA has uncovered undeniable evidence of government waste, an astounding R169.3 million (and counting) spent on ministerial travel between July 2024 and January 2025 alone.
While ordinary South Africans endure tax hikes and millions struggle to make ends meet, members of President Ramaphosa’s bloated Cabinet continue to indulge in luxury at taxpayers’ expense. Despite their extensive travel, there has been no discernible commensurate increase in economic growth or job creation, making this spending both fruitless and wasteful.
Recent parliamentary replies to our questions have revealed shocking levels of waste, including:
– Ministry of Higher Education and Training: R11 280 001
– Ministry of Transport: R7 143 269
– Ministry of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation (International Only): R7 352 546
This ongoing waste underscores the urgent need for ActionSA’s proposed legislative reforms, which focus on reducing unnecessary government spending and redirecting resources to where they are needed most, rather than increasing the financial burden on South African citizens through tax hikes.
In response, ActionSA took bold action by introducing our Cabinet Reform Package, a legislative proposal designed to eliminate the R1.5 billion squandered annually on a bloated executive.
Key proposals include:
1. A Constitutional Amendment to Abolish Deputy Ministers
– ActionSA will introduce a Constitutional Amendment to Section 91 (Cabinet) and repeal Section 93 (Deputy Ministers), permanently removing these redundant posts from government.
– This will immediately reduce costs and streamline government operations, ensuring that South Africa has a leaner, more efficient executive.
2. Parliamentary Vetting of Cabinet Appointments
– By amending Section 92 of the Constitution, ActionSA will introduce a formal Parliamentary ratification process for all ministerial appointments.
– For too long, unqualified, politically connected individuals have been handed Cabinet posts with no accountability. This reform will ensure a level of oversight that prevents reckless appointments.
3. The Cut Cabinet Perks Bill
– ActionSA will urgently table legislation to slash excessive ministerial allowances, travel expenses, luxury housing perks, and unnecessary VIP protection.
– This bill was initially introduced by the DA but later abandoned after they joined the ANC-led GNU and began benefiting from these very perks.
As revealed by our GNU Performance Tracker, 24 of the 32 Ministries and the Deputy President’s office have already spent R169.3 million on travel alone in just six months. ActionSA remains committed to holding them accountable and ensuring taxpayers no longer foot the bill for luxury lifestyles while they face potential VAT hikes and economic hardship.
Instead of tightening their belts, GNU Ministers have racked up excessive travel expenses while asking ordinary South Africans to pay higher taxes. ActionSA’s Cabinet Reform Package is not just about cutting costs, it is about restoring integrity, accountability, and efficiency to South Africa’s government.
All South Africans who are tired of the wasteful spending and want to see real change are urged to sign our petition to abolish Deputy Ministers at https://www.actionsa.org.za/cut-the-fat-dont-hike-the-vat/
Bloated Cabinet Travel Wastage Proves Why ActionSA’s Legislative Reforms Are Needed to Cut Fat, Not Hike VAT
As South Africa faces a deepening fiscal crisis, ActionSA has uncovered undeniable evidence of government waste, an astounding R169.3 million (and counting) spent on ministerial travel between July 2024 and January 2025 alone.
While ordinary South Africans endure tax hikes and millions struggle to make ends meet, members of President Ramaphosa’s bloated Cabinet continue to indulge in luxury at taxpayers’ expense. Despite their extensive travel, there has been no discernible commensurate increase in economic growth or job creation, making this spending both fruitless and wasteful.
Recent parliamentary replies to our questions have revealed shocking levels of waste, including:
– Ministry of Higher Education and Training: R11 280 001
– Ministry of Transport: R7 143 269
– Ministry of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation (International Only): R7 352 546
This ongoing waste underscores the urgent need for ActionSA’s proposed legislative reforms, which focus on reducing unnecessary government spending and redirecting resources to where they are needed most, rather than increasing the financial burden on South African citizens through tax hikes.
In response, ActionSA took bold action by introducing our Cabinet Reform Package, a legislative proposal designed to eliminate the R1.5 billion squandered annually on a bloated executive.
Key proposals include:
1. A Constitutional Amendment to Abolish Deputy Ministers
– ActionSA will introduce a Constitutional Amendment to Section 91 (Cabinet) and repeal Section 93 (Deputy Ministers), permanently removing these redundant posts from government.
– This will immediately reduce costs and streamline government operations, ensuring that South Africa has a leaner, more efficient executive.
2. Parliamentary Vetting of Cabinet Appointments
– By amending Section 92 of the Constitution, ActionSA will introduce a formal Parliamentary ratification process for all ministerial appointments.
– For too long, unqualified, politically connected individuals have been handed Cabinet posts with no accountability. This reform will ensure a level of oversight that prevents reckless appointments.
3. The Cut Cabinet Perks Bill
– ActionSA will urgently table legislation to slash excessive ministerial allowances, travel expenses, luxury housing perks, and unnecessary VIP protection.
– This bill was initially introduced by the DA but later abandoned after they joined the ANC-led GNU and began benefiting from these very perks.
As revealed by our GNU Performance Tracker, 24 of the 32 Ministries and the Deputy President’s office have already spent R169.3 million on travel alone in just six months. ActionSA remains committed to holding them accountable and ensuring taxpayers no longer foot the bill for luxury lifestyles while they face potential VAT hikes and economic hardship.
Instead of tightening their belts, GNU Ministers have racked up excessive travel expenses while asking ordinary South Africans to pay higher taxes. ActionSA’s Cabinet Reform Package is not just about cutting costs, it is about restoring integrity, accountability, and efficiency to South Africa’s government.
All South Africans who are tired of the wasteful spending and want to see real change are urged to sign our petition to abolish Deputy Ministers at https://www.actionsa.org.za/cut-the-fat-dont-hike-the-vat/