Ramaphosa's 81 bodyguards are costing SA taxpayers a fortune

- South Africa's president is an important figure and as such needs protection. But just how much protection is enough?

- The Presidential Protection Unit cost SA taxpayers more than R600 million in the last year

- President Ramaphosa has 81 trained officers watching his every move

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South Africa's President Ramaphosa has 81 trained bodyguards watching over and protect him every day.

Compared to the roughly 369 South Africans assigned to be kept safe by every 'normal' police officer, that's quite a lot of people watching one person.

However, The South African reports the guards watch over more than just the president.

There is also the Presidential Protection Unit. This unit is meant to keep watch over senior government officials. They also watch over President Ramaphosa's wife.

There are more than 1 300 trained protection officers in the Presidential Protection Unit. It cost South African taxpayers R693 million last year.

President Ramaphosa and many dignitaries enjoy serious protection wherever they travel.

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General Khehla Sithole stated that keeping dignitaries safe at all times is serious business. The Presidential Protection Unit is watching over 17 VIPs at this time.

Briefly.co.za learned that depending on who a bodyguard is protecting, he (or she) could earn more than R70 000 a month.

Given this estimate, the 81 bodyguards could easily cost South African taxpayers more than R500 000 a month.

Zakhele Mbhele of the Democratic Alliance was not impressed with the news that the president and dignitaries are enjoying such high levels of protection.

This is a blatant example of how the lives of the elite matter more to the ANC government than ordinary citizens lives.

While current and former heads of state and their spouses are safely protected‚ millions of South Africans live in constant fear of being the next victims of violent crime in our country.

Many other public political figures have been given such intense protection in the past. Former president Jacob Zuma and his wives have been given state security.

Security was given to Kgalema Motlanthe Thabo Mbeki, and FW de Klerk in the past as well.

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Source: Briefly News