Democratic Alliance (DA) Leader John Steenhausen. (Photo: Chris McGrath/Getty Images)
TThe appointment of a new cabinet made up mainly of MPs who signed up to the unity government paves the way for the ANC and Democratic Alliance to take action on behalf of South Africans, DA leader John Steenhausen said on Monday.
Steenhuisen, who was announced as the new agriculture minister by President Cyril Ramaphosa on Sunday, said the Government of National Unity (GNU) was not created by politicians or political parties but rather reflected the decision of voters to strip the ANC of its absolute majority and strengthen the DA's position as the country's second largest party.
“The configuration that we negotiated means that the DA, alongside the ANC, is the only party represented in each cluster in government,” he told a news conference.
“This means that for the first time, the voice of DA voters will be heard in every arena and in every forum where decisions about the future of our country are being made.”
Steenhuisen said he had already told members of the DA's cabinet who hold ministerial and deputy ministerial positions that “they have a huge responsibility on their shoulders”.
“Most importantly, the commitment these people bear reflects the will of the people who voted for the DA in 2024 to save South Africa.”
President Ramaphosa's long-awaited cabinet, announced on Sunday, is made up of members of the ANC, DA as well as the Inkatha Freedom Party, Patriotic Union, Freedom Front Plus, Good Party, Al Jama'ah and the United Democratic Movement.
Steenhausen's agriculture post is one of six allocated to the Democratic Labour Party, whose floor leader Siviwe Gwalbe has been made education minister and KwaZulu-Natal speaker Dean McPherson has been appointed public works minister.
Leon Schreiber was named interior minister, Solly Malatsi was minister of communications and Dion George was minister of forestry, fisheries and the environment. The party also secured deputy ministerial posts in other ministries.
Including all other parties and first and second deputy ministers, Ramaphosa's government will be made up of 75 ministers and deputy ministers, the largest since 1994.
This comes despite the DA having in the past criticised the size of government and the waste of taxpayers' money, and President Ramaphosa having previously pledged to reduce the size of government.
Action SA leader Herman Mashaba, who refused to join the unity government, said announcing a bloated and compromised cabinet gave the coalition a bad first impression and did not brighten prospects for meaningful reform.
“Contrary to previous promises by President Ramaphosa and the DA, 32 ministers and [43] “The actions of deputy ministers show how quickly their principles are ignored when it comes to profiting from themselves,” Mashaba said.
Steenhausen said the DA's mission is to painstakingly rebuild the government agencies under its control and “to ensure that our track record of good governance and quality service delivery in city and provincial government is reflected in national government.”
“I have been clear throughout the election campaign and subsequent negotiations that the DA is acting in accordance with the commitments it made in its election manifesto,” he said.
“These include the urgent need for economic growth and job creation, ending the energy crisis, fighting corruption and bad governance, and improving the quality of services such as education.”
In a statement on Sunday, the ANC said President Ramaphosa's announcement of his cabinet was an important step forward and testament to the strength of the country's democracy.
“The ANC will continue to play a leadership role in engaging with all political parties, including those not affiliated to the GNU, in the cause of change, salvation, national unity, peace and stability,” the statement said.
