Ramaphosa defends retaining deputy ministers, says they 'play a critical role' in govt

CAPE TOWN - President Cyril Ramaphosa has defended the retention of deputy ministers as part of the executive despite calls for their abolishment.

Ramaphosa said that deputy ministers served an important role in assisting ministers to perform their duties.

The president was answering questions in the National Assembly on Tuesday afternoon on several issues for the first time in the new term.

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The role and financial costs of deputy ministers has been a point of discussion for years, with calls for their abolishment from parties.

There is also a constitutional amendment bill by ActionSA to abolish deputy ministers currently before Parliament.

But President Ramaphosa said deputy ministers who don’t hold executive authority and aren’t legally empowered to act on behalf of ministers, still have a lot to offer.

"Deputy ministers continue to play a critical role in our government. They are members of the executive, participate in Cabinet committee discussions. I’d like to believe that we have a very wonderful system that functions so well."

But Ramaphosa said he would have preferred a smaller executive, but putting together a Government of National Unity meant he had to cater for more parties.