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OUTA Likes This Bill

This private MP’s bill aims to save us at least R287m a year, which OUTA believes would be better spent elsewhere.

The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA) supports the Constitution Twenty-Second Amendment Bill, 2025, a private Member’s bill being sponsored by MP Athol Trollip of ActionSA, which seeks to abolish the costly office of deputy minister, introduce parliamentary vetting of ministerial appointments, and allow motions of no confidence in individual ministers.

The draft bill was gazetted for public comment on 25 July and has yet to be introduced in Parliament.

Deputy ministers currently cost taxpayers at least R287 million per year in salaries and support staff alone. This excludes the significant extra burden of VIP protection, official residences, vehicles, and travel. OUTA believes these resources would be better spent on essential public services.

We recommend that the appointment of ministers follow the Chapter 9 institution model, which includes public nominations, transparent interviews, multi-party selection committees, and parliamentary approval. This would ensure ministers are appointed on merit, integrity, and competence, not political patronage.

“OUTA recognises the urgent need to address the excessive size and cost of the national executive, and to introduce robust checks and balances to safeguard against unfit appointments to ministerial office,” says OUTA’s submission to Parliament on this draft bill.

Deputy ministers are paid R2.215 million apiece, so the 43 positions set up last year cost about R95 million a year in salaries alone. To that cost must be added salaries for support staff at about R192 million, and an unknown extra cost for VIP protection, official residences, luxury vehicles, international travel and other perks.

“The abolition of these posts would free substantial resources for urgent socioeconomic priorities, while improving administrative efficiency,” says OUTA’s submission.

This bill represents a decisive step towards a leaner, more accountable government that works for the people, not at their expense.

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