For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Lumkile Nkomfe.

Making headlines: Opposition parties disappointed with Cabinet enlargement; Sadtu dissatisfied with Siviwe Gwarube’s appointment as Basic Education Minister; And, Kenya government committed to cutting spending, Finance Minister says

Opposition parties disappointed with Cabinet enlargement

Political parties have expressed disappointment with President Cyril Ramaphosa’s move to enlarge his Cabinet, after promising to significantly downsize the number of portfolios.

On Sunday Ramaphosa announced his much-anticipated Cabinet, following the 2024 national and provincial elections which saw the African National Congress losing it outright majority for the first time since 1994.

Ramaphosa announced the appointment of 32 Ministers and 42 Deputy Ministers, with Democratic Alliance leader John Steenhuisen and Inkatha Freedom Party leader Velenkosini Hlabisa being allocated ministerial positions.

The Economic Freedom Fighters noted that Ramaphosa’s bloated Cabinet signalled more pressure on tax payers to allow for the accommodation of “racists and their policies in high position of power”.

ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba noted that the “bloated and compromised” Cabinet was a bad first impression for the new grand coalition and any intention of bringing meaningful reform to the politics that was voted out by a majority in this election.

Build One South Africa said it was firmly opposed to extending patronage using Cabinet positions, calling for the removal of blue light brigades; VIP security details; million-rand luxury cars; business class flights and travel and catering benefits.

Sadtu dissatisfied with Siviwe Gwarube’s appointment as Basic Education Minister

The South African Democratic Teachers’ Union has condemned what it termed the Democratic Alliance’s arrogant, racist attitude and mentality of telling President Cyril Ramaphosa how to exercise his constitutional duty to appoint his Cabinet, criticising the appointment of Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube.

After nearly two weeks of rigorous negotiations, Ramaphosa announced the composition of the seventh administration’s National Executive. This after the African National Congress lost its outright majority in the 2024 national provincial elections.

Sadtu noted that in announcing his Cabinet, Ramaphosa mentioned experience and skills to deliver as some of the attributes of this Cabinet.

The union highlighted that it acknowledged that the President had a prerogative in appointing Ministers and Deputy Ministers to serve the country, saying that what Sadtu knew from the leaked letters of the DA though, was that the DA demanded certain ministerial posts including basic education.

And, Kenya government committed to cutting spending, Finance

Kenya's Finance Minister today reaffirmed the government's commitment to cut spending after the President suggested a nearly $2.7-billion budget gap caused by the withdrawal of proposed tax hikes would be funded by borrowing.

Last Wednesday, President William Ruto withdrew a finance Bill containing 346-billion Kenyan shillings ($2.69-billion) in tax increases, following deadly protests in which at least 24 people were killed.

In his speech announcing the Bill's withdrawal, Ruto said he would propose austerity measures to help tackle the fiscal deficit.

However, in an interview with television stations yesterday, Ruto said the government would have to borrow an extra 346-billion shillings to fill the deficit, bringing total borrowing for the 2024/25 fiscal year to nearly 1-trillion shillings.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

Don’t forget to follow us on the X platform, at the handle @PolityZA