ActionSA wants parliamentary vetting of ministers
ActionSA on Monday called for the parliamentary vetting of ministers before they are appointed to a cabinet positions.
The party announced its Cabinet Reform Package and the Zero-Tolerance Corruption Bill in Cape Town.
This as Minister of Human Settlement Thembi Simelane is accused of benefiting from the now defunct VBS Mutual Bank during her time as mayor of Polokwane, while Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni is accused of fraud and corruption linked to a municipal tender.
ActionSA says it will also push for a Constitutional Amendment to do away with deputy ministers.
Following the formation of the Government of National Unity last year, President Ramaphosa appointed what many felt to be a bloated cabinet consisting of 43 deputy ministers and 32 ministers.
ActionSA Parliamentary caucus leader Athol Trollip said the party believes doing away with deputy ministers will help reduce government spending.
"ActionSA will be tabling a Constitutional Amendment to Abolish Deputy Ministers entirely from the cabinet structure by amending Section 91 (cabinet) and repealing Section 93 (deputy ministers) of the constitution.
"This will be done in conjunction with a Constitutional Amendment requiring Parliament to
Ratify Cabinet Appointments within a set timeframe by amending Section 92 of the constitution,
"This will, for the first time, introduce parliamentary vetting of ministerial appointments by
the president, thereby enhancing oversight and accountability of the executive," he explained.
The party also will also table the Cut Cabinet Perks Bill, which was previously introduced by DA.
The bill was aimed at amending remuneration of public office bearers, perks on housing, travel expenses and VIP protection.
"The extent of this waste continues to be exposed in our GNU Performance Tracker, which reveals that, in the first few months since their appointment in July 2024, just over half of the Ministers have cumulatively blown R143.5 million on travel alone,” Trollip added.
On its Zero-Tolerance Corruption Bill, ActionSA said it will push for minimum sentence for corruption involving transactions exceeding R500,000 to 15 years’ imprisonment, with no option of a fine or parole.
The party also wants a permanent disqualification of anyone convicted of corruption from holding public office.
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