Braai the bloated bureaucrat

The department of public works is at it again. The profligate spending by this department is shocking. Braai places for ministers at R500,000 each, homes for governments ministers at a cool R7m each in Waterkloof.

This is the same department that gave us the obscene spending on Nkandla and the infamous “fire pool”.

Our government ministers live high on the hog with free housing, free transport, unlimited credit cards, bodyguards and other perks. Free air travel for their spouses and family too. Our ministers live large off the taxpayer.

Contrast this sheer opulence with the poverty that has gripped the country.

Government offices throughout the country are in a shabby state. Examples are the home affairs offices in Durban and the South African Social Security Agency offices in Phoenix. There is no money to maintain these essential offices.

Maybe ministers have lost touch with the poor citizenry who put them there? Many retirees and pensioners live on a fixed income with a measly increase from which they pay for their own transport, home and security, and yet are asked to tighten their belts.

It’s a sad indictment of a government that has lost its way and yet we all will be harangued to vote next year.

Lofty promises will be made by these politicians before the elections and, sadly, many voters will fall for them.

Paks Pakiriy, Durban North