ActionSA has criticised President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Cabinet adjustments, saying the Government of National Unity is “out of ideas” and warning against a bloated executive structure and controversial ministerial appointments. Image: Social development department/ X
President Cyril Ramaphosa’s latest Cabinet adjustments have drawn criticism from ActionSA and labour federation COSATU over governance concerns, the size of the executive, and recent ministerial appointments.
The changes come after Ramaphosa removed three deputy ministers and reassigned DA leader John Steenhuisen in a Cabinet adjustment.
They follow a proposal from DA leader Geordin Hill-Lewis to restructure the party’s representation in Cabinet, which Ramaphosa has approved.
Under the adjustments, Steenhuisen has been moved from Minister of Agriculture to Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry.
He will be replaced as Agriculture Minister by Willie Aucamp, who previously served as Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment.
Three DA deputy ministers have also been removed from the executive, including Samantha Graham-Mare from Electricity and Energy, Sello Seitlholo from Water and Sanitation, and Mimmy Gondwe from Higher Education and Training.
ActionSA Parliamentary Leader Athol Trollip MP said the changes reflect deeper problems within the Government of National Unity (GNU).
“This is yet another example of papering over a Government of National Unity that is out of ideas,” Trollip said.
He said the administration was “lurching from one crisis to the next while clinging to a bloated executive of 75 Ministers and Deputy Ministers.”
Trollip strongly criticised the appointment of former minister Dina Pule as Minister of Social Development.
“The ANC is scraping the bottom of the barrel,” he said.
He pointed to her removal from Cabinet in 2013 following findings by Parliament’s Ethics Committee that she had breached the Executive Ethics Code, saying her return sent “a dangerous message” about accountability in government.
Trollip also criticised the appointment of DA leader John Steenhuisen as a Deputy Minister, saying it followed the handling of the Foot-and-Mouth Disease crisis, which he said had devastated farmers and cost the economy more than R13 billion.
He argued that Deputy Minister posts were being used to “cushion the fall of disgraced former ministers rather than serve the public.”
He further questioned the promotion of Willie Aucamp to Minister of Agriculture, citing concerns over his previous tenure as Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, including issues related to captive lion hunting and breeding, delays to the Marion Island research programme, and management challenges at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden.
Trollip added that the reshuffle did not address ongoing concerns involving other ministers.
“The Government of National Unity uses Cabinet as a vehicle for political patronage rather than good governance,” he said.
He said there was little appetite for accountability measures such as performance agreements and lifestyle audits, adding that ActionSA had introduced its Cabinet Reform Package, which includes the Enhanced Cut Cabinet Perks Bill and the 23rd Constitutional Amendment Bill aimed at reducing the size and cost of government.
Meanwhile, the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) said it noted the changes made to Cabinet by President Cyril Ramaphosa, describing them as adjustments largely affecting parties within the Government of National Unity rather than a full reshuffle.
COSATU Parliamentary Coordinator Matthew Parks said the federation was concerned that it had not been consulted on the changes, saying this was “deeply worrying” given workers’ stake in government leadership decisions.
“It is deeply worrying that COSATU, a long standing and loyal member of the Tripartite Alliance, was not consulted on these changes to Cabinet,” Parks said, adding that appointments must reflect competence and integrity.
Parks criticised the appointment of Dina Pule as Minister of Social Development, calling it “extremely worrying” in light of findings previously made by the Public Protector and Parliament’s Ethics Committee. He said the appointment risks distracting from efforts to rebuild public trust after state capture.
He also raised concern over repeated leadership changes at the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, noting that the department is now on its third minister in two years, warning that instability undermines service delivery.
“It is important that the new members of the Executive hit the ground running. There will be no honeymoon,” Parks said, adding that ministers are facing high unemployment, weak economic growth, and rising levels of poverty, inequality, and crime. He said COSATU would support ministers who perform but hold those who fail accountable.
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