DA wants reduced cabinet

Cape Town - The Democratic Alliance is disappointed that Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene did not mention the size of the Cabinet in his Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement, DA MP Dion George has said.

"He did not talk about the size of the Cabinet. He did not touch on wasteful expenditure," he said.

"This means the taxpayer will pay for government mismanagement."

To cut government expenditure meant reducing the size of the Cabinet.

READ: Nene: Govt first to tighten belt

The party's parliamentary leader Mmusi Maimane called for bold decisions and implementation of tougher measures to get the economy to recover.

Speaking outside parliament, Maimane said it is a difficult time for South Africa that is why we need bold and strong leadership. "Globally, other markets are starting to recover.

"Other African countries are growing at a higher rate than us... and this tells you there is something wrong that we are doing, not simply an economic climate that we are in."

Nene announced measures to check South Africa's worsening debt outlook, warning the country had reached an economic turning point.

READ: Nene: Economy at turning point

Nene said measures would include capping government spending and raising tax revenues.

Maimane said Nene should have announced tougher interventions to hold those who wasted public funds accountable.