By: Natasha Archary
Changes to the ministerial handbook ensures that South Africa’s ministers and their deputies don’t have to pay a cent for electricity and water.
What’s more is that cabinet ministers enjoy a loadshedding-free existence, while the rest of the country and its taxpayers bare the brunt of rolling blackouts.
According to a report, all South African ministers are exempt from paying monthly fees for the provision of water, electricity and other utilities.
Previously, ministers were only exempt from covering their own costs if their bills remained below the R5 000 cap.
However, changes made to the ministerial handbook in May has made it so that the department of public works will be responsible for the costs incurred by ministers and deputy ministers.
“The department responsible for public works shall be responsible for the costs associated with the provision of water and electricity to a state-owned residence, provided that such cost is limited to R5,000 per month per state-owned residence.”
South Africa ministers and deputy ministers reportedly earn between R2 million to R2.5 million annually, and still enjoy a life without the burden of paying for basic necessities.
In addition, any minister or deputy minister who does not receive an exemption from loadshedding, will have a generator installed at the expense of the department.
Cabinet ministers who live in Pretoria will have their residences linked to the same grid as the Union Buildings, which is never affected by loadshedding.
Earlier this year, President Cyril Ramaphosa approved a whopping R100 000 increase in the budget for minister’s vehicles.
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