“Food aides’’ for ministers, “household aides”, and unlimited free water and electricity in their official residences. While the rest of the country battles rising food prices, soaring interest rates and a fuel price at historic highs, it seems President Cyril Ramaphosa and his cabinet ministers live in a world all of their own. A world that the rest of us mortals can only dream about.
While we were being told to tighten our belts, Ramaphosa was quietly amending the infamous Ministerial Handbook to make the lives of his ministers even more comfortable than they already are. As we battle with load-shedding and absorb the full impact of warnings of a similar water crisis, ministers now enjoy unlimited free water and electricity in their free official residences. Before Ramaphosa wielded his magic pen, ministers and their deputies were constrained in water and electricity usage in that they had to pay these costs when they got above a R5,000 limit. Now there’s no limit.
But in addition to this perk, ministers are being allowed to increase the number of people they employ, with a “food aide” and other new posts created. Exactly what such a person would do is not specified, but presumably they will be set the task of making sure the minister and his or her guests are well fed and cared for.
This will only fuel public outrage. But in its initial response when the news of these extra perks broke, the government deflected responsibility to the department of public works, which manages the state’s properties. Fast-forward a few days, and the government seemed to realise the depth of the anger. This is especially so given that our cabinet could hardly be described as an assembly of high achievers.
Only those cosseted within the charmed circle of the pampered will not support an independent inquiry into the matter
Now the president’s office has said that Ramaphosa will again amend the Ministerial Handbook. That is a positive development, possibly, but it overlooks the fact that this seems to be one area of government spending that is not subject to oversight.
Unsurprisingly, the DA intends to capitalise on the public outcry by taking the matter to court. Only those cosseted within the charmed circle of the pampered will not support an independent inquiry into the matter.
For the president, the disclosures around the surreptitious changes to the handbook are another public relations disaster. Two possible conclusions may be drawn: first, that Ramaphosa and his executive couldn’t give two hoots about the plight of South Africans; second, that Ramaphosa is so insecure in his position that he will do anything to keep his ministers onside.
The handbook has long been a source of controversy. It’s been shrouded in secrecy. It’s accommodated the free-spending proclivities of our executive and set them up as a class apart from the rest of us.
Yes, the handbook must be reviewed, again. But more importantly, the whole notion of what the handbook describes as “privileges and benefits’’ needs to be examined. Crucially, it needs to become part of a public process and subject to the same scrutiny as all public spending.
Ministers and other members of the executive need to be properly resourced to do their jobs. That is not in dispute. But a secret process that allows for benefits that turn members of the executive into a class apart should not be tolerated in a democracy.
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