No holiday jaunts at taxpayer expense for Zuma
’Secret’ Presidential Handbook finally released to public is bad news for state’s big spenders
DEPUTY President Cyril Ramaphosa will have to pay his own way the next time he decides to fly abroad commercially — that is, if he is on a private trip.
In addition, Ramaphosa and his boss, President Jacob Zuma, will have to pay for their own accommodation when they go on holiday, whether in South Africa or abroad.
This is according to the new rules contained in the Presidential Handbook, a guide to the perks to which Zuma and his deputy are entitled — and which, until now, has been a well-kept secret. The state still has the responsibility to cover the costs of security upgrades at the private homes of Zuma and his deputy.
This week, after lobby group AfriForum launched legal action, the Pretoria High Court ordered that the handbook be released by November 30. The Presidency did so on Friday.
Lately Ramaphosa has opted to travel commercially even on official business, shunning the allocated South African Air Force plane, which has been dogged by technical problems in recent times. And he already prefers to use his own private helicopter and vehicles when he travels to his farm in Limpopo.
Before the court ruling on Friday, the private travel of the president and his deputy had been the subject of controversy.
Zuma’s former deputy, Kgalema Motlanthe, was in hot water in 2012 for a holiday he took in the Seychelles after his bruising defeat by Zuma at the ANC’s Mangaung conference.
Motlanthe was reportedly flown by the air force to the holiday islands, but the taxpayer had to pay an extra R83 000 for a private jet as his allocated Falcon 900 could not land on his island of choice, Île Desroches.
His office insisted Motlanthe paid for his own accommodation.
Another deputy president, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, was investigated by then-public protector Lawrence Mushwana in 2006 after she flew to Dubai with her close associates and her husband, Bulelani Ngcuka, for what she claimed was a “work and holiday” trip.
Mushwana recommended that the Presidential Handbook — which was being drafted at the time — should provide clear and specific guidelines on the TRIP: President Zuma and his wife Thobeka Madiba-Zuma travel and accommodation of the president and his deputy.
The handbook says Zuma and Ramaphosa may use private or commercial planes only after consulting intelligence agencies.
Even though the two will have to pay for some of the expenses when they go on holiday, the COMMERCIAL FLIGHTS: Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa takes a bow in Namibia travel costs for support staff, including bodyguards, will be covered by the state.
The two will still enjoy many of the perks they had before, including access to state accommodation, security, healthcare, legal representation and shortterm insurance.
The air force will continue to organise their air travel, the South African Police Service will provide security and the Department of International Relations will be liable for their accommodation and “incidental expenses” when the two are on official visits.
The Presidency will continue to pay for all commercial flights undertaken by Zuma’s four wives and Ramaphosa’s wife when they travel within South Africa’s borders, even on private trips.
However, while the state will pay for the presidential spouses’ official trips outside our borders, it will not cover their overseas holidays.
They may use commercial planes only after consulting intelligence agencies
Their school-going children will be transported to school and back at the state’s expense.
The wives will continue to have access to security and transport, which is provided by the police.
The state will continue to fund the spousal offices for Zuma’s and Ramaphosa’s wives — including office equipment, stationery and staff.