“This Is So Messed Up!”: SA Content Creator Breaks Down Non-Salary Benefits for MP’s, Mzansi Reacts

• A video by @garfieldzars broke down the full list of benefits South African MPs and ministers receive at taxpayers' expense
• The benefits include free furniture, flights, housing allowances and more, all covered by the South African public's purse
• South Africans watching the video were left stunned and furious at how their tax money is being spent

A video posted on 8 August 2026 by Instagram user @garfieldzars has left South Africans deeply unsettled after it laid out, what the country's members of parliament and ministers receive as part of their official benefits package.

The clip drew from a news report detailing member support services, facilities and benefits. What it revealed was a comprehensive package that goes well beyond a salary. MPs are entitled to furnished accommodation, travel allowances, flights, and a range of other perks, all funded by South African taxpayers.

What SA MPs and Ministers receive

According to the parliamentary benefits document, members receive support covering housing, office expenses, and domestic travel, among other provisions. The document outlines how ministerial staff and resources are allocated, with significant costs absorbed by the state rather than deducted from personal earnings. Ordinary South Africans, by contrast, budget for furniture, rent and transport from their own take-home pay.

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The video spread quickly, with thousands stopping to ask the same question: who is paying for all of this?

View the Instagram video below:

Mzansi reacts to the MP benefits video

South Africans in the comments were not holding back on the page:

@yung_earn wrote:

"This is so messed up! Maybe we should get into politics so we can also live this nicely because what?!"

@gregorybakker said:

"All paid for by tax payers. All of it."

@christian.traut shared:

"I think I'm gonna study law in uni now..."

@leesedi76 asked:

"How do I become a minister? 😢"

@kgabo_ryan reacted:

"They aggressively tax us for this?? 😂😂🤦🏿‍♂️"

More Briefly News stories on benefits

• A guide explaining that families can claim UIF benefits when an employed person dies has stunned South Africans, with many unaware of the entitlement.
• A viral TikTok video sparked questions after students allegedly claimed NSFAS had funded them to buy scooters, leaving South Africans divided and curious.
• A South African belt splicer’s salary sparked surprise and debate online, with many viewers questioning how much the specialised job can pay.

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"She won't post this": Public worker confronts Helen Zille over non-payment and chases her away

Source: Briefly News