Cutting these perks is long overdue
It is a well-known fact that despite their exorbitant salaries, government ministers are blessed with many extras and bonuses, and ordinary South Africans have always wondered what the executives actually do with their monthly pay.
This week our sister publication, TimesLIVE, reported that public service and administration minister Senzo Mchunu had announced a new ministerial handbook.
According to the minister, cuts to benefits enjoyed by the executives include capping official vehicle costs at R700,000.
In simple language this means in addition to the annual salary of more than R1m, a minister gets a R700,000 luxury vehicle to drive around in, paid for by the state.
The minister went on to say members of the executive and their spouses would from now on fly economy class when travelling on official business within South Africa and on international flights of two hours or less.
Did they have to fly business class in the first place?
There is more. The minister has announced that the state shall not bear any costs in respect of security upgrades done at a member s private residence. The figure increased from R100,000 to R250,000 for a minister or MEC in the last few years.
It is now at zero, the minister proudly proclaimed to rousing applause.
But why was this waste of taxpayers hard-earned money allowed to carry on for so long?
Yes, the leaders have been changed but it s been the same government, the same ruling party for the past 25 years.
And then the minister had the nerve to say these were
sacrifices on the part of the executives.
Really? How is doing the right thing and paying for one s expenses a sacrifice?
Mchunu aid it was envisaged that similar changes would take place to cut these costs in the public service and the public sector in general, including mayors, executive committees, directors-general and stateowned entities.
It should not even be envisaged, it should be done, and the sooner the better.
This country s ailing economy cannot afford these unnecessary splurges.