South African Minister No Longer Required to Pay for Water and Electricity While Enjoying Other Perks

• Ministers and deputies no longer have to pay their water and electricity bills following a change to the ministerial handbook
• The R5000 cap on electricity and water bills at state-owned residences has since been removed from the handbook
• Ministers earn almost R2.5 million annually, and their deputies take home just over R2 million and enjoy a host of perks

JOHANNESBURG - The perks of being a minister or deputy in South Africa have gotten sweeter. Recent amendments to the ministerial handbook now mean public servants do not have to pay for municipal services.

Previously water and electricity to a limit of R5000 a month were provided to state-owned residences, and anything above had to be paid by the relevant member. The cap has since been removed from the handbook.

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Opposition political party members are not awarded the same luxuries and are looking into the changes. Ministers earn almost R2.5 million annually and their deputies take home just over R2 million.

According to BusinessTech, head of legal at the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA) Stefanie Fick, taxpayers are footing the bill for the ministers’ and deputies’ utilities. She questioned the omission of the cap in the country’s economic climate.

South African Cabinet members and spouses also get paid flights for official visits nationally and internationally. They also receive accommodation in hotels based on their “status,” which extends to their partners, and dependent children.

TimesLIVE reported that taxpayers also pay for 24 luxury vehicles for 17 ministers and deputies. About R19 million was spent on high-end vehicles from 2019 to 2021.

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Citizens outraged by the perks:

Debbie Frankson said:

“And the masses suffer every day.”

Moleya Thapelo commented:

“SA wage difference is just insane, barbaric, and senseless, is done by people who have lost all humanity in them.”

Advocates Masia posted:

“That is why am no longer interested in voting.”

Sydney Dama Sydney wrote:

“Eix.. that’s why they don’t want to give us a salary increase.”

Selena Govender added:

“VOTE ANC FOR FREE WATER AND ELECTRICITY FOR THEMSELVES.”

DA says Zwakele Mncwango schemed to leave political party while enjoying its lavish perks

In a related matter, Briefly News also reported Zwakele Mncwango resigned as a Democratic Alliance (DA) member three days after refuting claims that he was leaving the party when he resigned as the party’s chip whip.

According to SowetanLIVE, The former DA leader accused Hellen Zille, the federal chairperson was trying to silence him about the toxic culture in the party that pushed him to the breaking point of resigning.

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The DA believe that Mncwango has been planning on joining ActionSA for the last month and called on him to tell the public the truth about his true intentions.

Source: Briefly News