South Africa’s Bloated Government: A Financial Burden That Must Be Cut South Africa’s government is excessively large, with 75 ministers and deputy ministers, a web of unnecessary departments, and a lavish culture of VIP perks—all while the economy struggles. Despite the country’s financial distress, the government continues to spend billions on itself, draining public funds that could be used to improve education, healthcare, infrastructure, and job creation. Instead of raising taxes or borrowing more, the first step to solving the crisis should be cutting government excess. A cabinet that’s too large and too expensive has made South Africa one of the most over-governed countries in the world. The 75 ministers and deputy ministers stand in stark contrast to the U.S., which has only 15 Cabinet members, the UK with 22, and India—with a population 25 times larger—managing with about 30 ministers. The salaries alone are staggering— • each cabinet minister earns R2.69 million annually, • deputy ministers receiving R2.2 million • deputy president taking home R3.16 million per year. However, their true cost extends far beyond their paychecks. • Ministers enjoy fully furnished official residences in Pretoria and Cape Town, • complete with free utilities, top-tier security, and maintenance covered by taxpayers. • They also travel in luxury, with multiple VIP vehicles, business-class and first-class flights, • and five-star hotel stays, ensuring that their lifestyles remain completely unaffected by the struggles of ordinary citizens. Too many government departments, too little efficiency is another burden on the economy. • South Africa has over 30 national government departments, • many of which are either redundant, ineffective, or completely unnecessary. • Departments such as o Small Business Development, o Sports, Arts and Culture, o Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, o Public Enterprises duplicate functions that could easily be merged into broader portfolios or eliminated entirely. Meanwhile, critical sectors such as education, healthcare, and infrastructure face chronic underfunding, demonstrating that the government prioritizes its own size over service delivery. Despite President Ramaphosa’s past promises to cut down on bureaucracy, the government remains as bloated as ever, with no meaningful reductions in size or spending. State-owned enterprises (SOEs) are a never-ending money pit, consuming billions in bailouts while delivering little to no improvement in service delivery. • Eskom has received over R400 billion Rand in bailouts, yet load shedding continues. • South African Airways (SAA) was given R50 billion Rand before being partially privatized. • Transnet and PRASA continue to receive billions while failing to provide reliable transport infrastructure. These SOEs are plagued by mismanagement, corruption, and political interference, creating an endless cycle of failure that costs taxpayers without delivering results. Instead of endlessly funding failing enterprises, the government should privatize or reform these entities, allowing private sector expertise to drive efficiency and profitability. VIP perks and bureaucratic waste allow ministers and high- ranking officials to live in luxury while ordinary citizens struggle.

• Source: State of the Nation 2025 SA is Broke! Feb. 18, 2025 View on YouTube • Source: SABC News : Budget 2025 : February 18, 2025 View on YouTube • Source: Daily Investor: Dawie Roodt : Feb. 18, 2025 View on YouTube • Source: SABC News : Budget 2025 Feb. 18, 2025 View on YouTube

South Africa's 2024/25 national budget outlines government revenue of approximately R1.731 trillion, primarily sourced from personal income tax (PIT), value-added tax (VAT), and corporate income tax (CIT). Personal income tax remains a significant contributor, while VAT collections are projected at R439.7 billion, slightly below expectations due to higher-than-anticipated refunds. Corporate tax revenue stands at R269.9 billion, reflecting stable business contributions. The economy is forecasted to grow by 1.1% in 2024 and 1.7% in 2025, supported by improvements in electricity supply and increased investor confidence. Social grant spending is expected to rise from R217.1 billion to R259.3 billion by 2026/27. Debt-service costs remain high at R301.8 billion, as national debt is projected to stabilize at 75.5% of GDP by 2025/26. The budget deficit is estimated at 5.0% of GDP, wider than initially forecasted, reflecting ongoing fiscal challenges. Inflation is expected to average 4.0% in 2024, helping maintain economic stability.

Ministers enjoy • VIP blue-light convoys that speed through traffic, • security details that cost millions, • and luxury offices outfitted with expensive furniture and upgrades. • The government’s public sector wage bill alone exceeds 600 billion Rand per year, • consuming more than 35% of the national budget. • The scale of waste is shocking o ghost employees who collect government salaries without working, o inflated tenders for unnecessary projects, o and travel budgets that would make even wealthy business executives jealous. While ordinary South Africans are told to tighten their belts, government officials continue to enjoy unchecked excess. How can the government be trimmed? The solution is clear. • South Africa must cut the number of ministers, • eliminate wasteful departments, • slash perks, • reform SOEs, • and cap public sector wages. A Cabinet of 15–20 ministers would be more than enough. • Departments that duplicate functions should be merged or scrapped. • Lavish ministerial perks, o such as multiple homes, o excessive travel budgets, and o VIP security convoys should be drastically reduced. Most importantly, SOEs must be overhauled, either through strict financial controls or privatization, to prevent further financial drain. South Africa cannot afford to maintain a bloated, self-indulgent government while the economy falters. The billions wasted on unnecessary ministers, redundant departments, and failing SOEs could be used to fix the country’s education system, improve hospitals, build infrastructure, and create jobs. The government must lead by example, proving that it is willing to make sacrifices before demanding more from taxpayers. The choice is simple: cut the waste or risk economic collapse. The real question is—will South Africa’s leaders put the country first, or will they continue to protect their own luxury lifestyles at the public’s expense?