The role and relevance of deputy ministers in South Africa has come under renewed scrutiny after one of the country’s two deputy police ministers, Cassel Mathale, revealed that he has yet to be given any official duties.
Mathale made the startling admission during a parliamentary session, prompting questions from ANC MP Xola Nqola, who asked bluntly: “You wake up, go to the office and do what?”
The revelation has sparked public debate over whether the appointment of multiple deputy ministers serves any functional purpose, or if it merely adds to the cost of government.
Mathale, who serves alongside another deputy police minister, Polly Boshielo, told Parliament that he has been waiting for delegated responsibilities from the minister but has not received any to date.
Critics say the situation exposes inefficiencies in government structures and raises questions about accountability and the value taxpayers get from such positions.
Some political analysts argue that deputy ministerial roles often exist more for political balance than for operational necessity, particularly in departments with more than one deputy minister.
The discussion has quickly gained traction online, becoming one of the country’s most-read stories, as South Africans weigh in on what many describe as “paid idleness” at the expense of the public purse.
