South Africa’s official opposition Democratic Alliance is alarmed at reports of a proposal being discussed in the South African Cabinet for a “super-ministry” to oversee the economy.
Shadow trade and industry minister Enyinna Nkem-Abonta said in a statement on Wednesday that President Thabo Mbeki has already centralised power through the Policy Coordination and Advisory Service — a powerful and unelected body that vets policy from every government department.
“It is therefore unclear why a super-ministry would be necessary to coordinate the economics cluster. Coordination can be enhanced, without encumbering effectiveness, by strengthening the present cluster arrangement.
“Instead of streamlining governance, the proposed super-ministry would be more likely to create an unwieldy mega-bureaucracy responsible for an impossible range of duties, including the national Budget, the R165-billion infrastructure investment programme, industrial development and the privatisation programme.
“It is clear that the Department of Trade and Industry requires a radical overhaul, and the proposed devolution of trade responsibilities to the Department of Foreign Affairs is a concept which the DA has promoted for years.
“The creation of an economic super-ministry, however, is an outdated idea that will result in the overcentralisation of power and more bureaucratic red tape,” said Nkem-Abonta.
Business Day earlier reported that the creation of super-ministries is on the cards — one being an umbrella economics super-ministry to act as a coordinator, with the departments of public enterprises and trade and industry falling under its supervision. — I-Net Bridge