ActionSA has ignited a major political storm by tabling a private member’s bill in Parliament that seeks to dramatically shrink South Africa’s executive and impose tighter accountability on ministerial appointments and perks.

The proposed Constitution Twenty-Second Amendment Bill, gazetted this week by ActionSA parliamentary leader Athol Trollip, aims to abolish the office of Deputy Minister, introduce mandatory parliamentary vetting of all Cabinet appointments, and grant Parliament the power to remove individual ministers through motions of no confidence.

Trollip said the reforms are aimed at curbing the “bloated and inefficient” structure of government and restoring trust in public institutions amid growing public anger over wasteful expenditure, corruption, and patronage.

“South Africa cannot afford to drift leaderless during moments of crisis,” Trollip said. “This Constitutional Amendment is ActionSA’s commitment to restoring integrity, professionalism, and accountability in the executive, while placing the power of appointment and removal where it belongs: in the hands of the people’s Parliament.”

R251 Million Spent on Ministers’ Travel in a Year

The announcement comes in the wake of staggering revelations that over R251.5 million was spent on ministerial travel between July 2024 and June 2025 alone – a symbol of a government many South Africans believe has lost touch with its citizens. Trollip cited this as just one of many reasons the government must “fix the public purse.”

In its statement on Sunday, 27 July 2025, ActionSA argued that the Deputy Minister positions — 43 in total — have become mere tools of cadre deployment, offering little to no governance value. The removal of all Deputy Ministers, it says, could save the fiscus billions annually.

“Deputy Ministers are not even constitutionally empowered to act in the absence of Ministers. If they can’t step in during a crisis, what exactly are they being paid for?” asked Trollip.

Recent Cabinet Confusion Fuels Momentum

The party pointed to the recent scandal involving Police Minister Senzo Mchunu — currently on “special leave” amid allegations of interference in police investigations — as further evidence of executive dysfunction. In the wake of his leave, President Cyril Ramaphosa appointed Prof. Firoz Cachalia, a non-MP and non-Minister, to act in Mchunu’s place. But Cachalia has yet to be formally sworn in under constitutional provisions, leaving Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe as the acting Police Minister.

“This chaotic chain of events highlights the absurdity of a system in which Deputy Ministers are powerless and Cabinet reshuffles are done with zero transparency or parliamentary involvement,” Trollip added.

Adding fuel to the fire is the controversial appointment of Thembi Simelane — previously linked to the VBS corruption scandal — as Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development. She was later quietly shifted to a different portfolio in a late-night Cabinet reshuffle that avoided public scrutiny.

Key Reforms Proposed in the Amendment Bill

The Constitution Twenty-Second Amendment Bill proposes the following:

• Abolishing all 43 Deputy Minister posts – estimated to save billions in salaries and perks annually.
• Mandatory parliamentary vetting of all Cabinet appointments, including a dedicated vetting committee and a final vote in the National Assembly.
• Enabling Parliament to pass motions of no confidence in individual Ministers, not just the entire Cabinet.
• Expanding the number of non-MP Ministers from two to four, to allow experts and professionals from outside Parliament to be appointed.

Trollip described these reforms as essential to “end the cycle of recycled deployments, patronage networks, and unaccountable ministers.”

Oversight of the Ministerial Handbook

In parallel with the constitutional amendment, ActionSA has also tabled the Enhanced Cut Cabinet Perks Bill, now before the Portfolio Committee on Justice and Constitutional Development. This seeks to end the President’s unilateral power to amend the controversial Ministerial Handbook.

The Bill includes provisions to:

• Subject all amendments to independent review.
• Mandate publication of changes within 30 days.
• Require regular parliamentary reviews of all Cabinet and Presidential perks.

These reforms, Trollip said, could save the taxpayer an estimated R1.5 billion annually, money that could be redirected to basic services, infrastructure, and jobs.

Public Participation Now Open

The Bill is now open for public comment for 30 days. South Africans are invited to email their submissions to speaker@parliament.gov.za and copy parliament@actionsa.org.za. A copy of the full draft Bill is available on the CUT THE CABINET website.

“We invite every South African who is tired of waste and incompetence to stand with us,” said Trollip. “It’s time to put people before perks.”

Analyst Welcomes Move, But Warns of Political Resistance

Political analyst Dr. Ralph Mathekga welcomed the proposed reforms, describing them as “bold, necessary and long overdue.” He said the Bill may find favour with voters but warned that passing a constitutional amendment would require broad support in Parliament.

“The real test will be whether ActionSA can mobilise enough political consensus across opposition benches and within the ANC caucus to secure the two-thirds majority needed for constitutional amendments,” Mathekga said. “Still, even tabling this Bill shifts the political discourse around executive accountability.”

ActionSA’s reform initiative marks one of the most significant attempts to restructure the executive arm of government since 1994. Whether it succeeds or not, the move is already reshaping public expectations about the size and performance of government — and sharpening the divide between status quo defenders and reformist forces in the lead-up to the 2026 elections.