One cannot help but be deeply skeptical about the government’s commitment to cost-cutting measures and the creation of a more equal society when reports emerge of over R8-m being spent on personal security measures for Deputy President David Mabuza in a period of just six months (Times Live 12 November 2020). It was revealed that he has a team of 28 VIP protection officers, who rotate weekly.
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The irony is, as MP Manny de Freitas correctly observes, it is these same huge ‘security details’ that tend to draw attention to the ‘protectee’ and perhaps place them at higher risk.
I have previously written about the obscene amounts of money dedicated to the protection and security of politicians, with the most recent budget indicating an allocation of over R2-bn for security allocated to units such as the presidential security services.
Of course, we are all familiar with the massive security details that accompany the mayors, and even junior appointees in the smallest of municipalities throughout the country. Clearly what’s good for the goose is better for the gander!
Being able to access the resources of state-paid bodyguards is seen it seems as a mark that one has ‘arrived’ politically.
In the recent mid-term budget report, the finance minister took the knife to almost all spheres of social spending – no departments were immune in the scramble to raise in particular, the R10,5-bn needed for SAA.
Critical spending programmes in the departments of education, health and the police were deferred or reduced.
There was not a squeak about executive benefits and perks of politicians, when reports such as these reveal that swathes of ‘fat’ could be trimmed from this area, and reallocated to others.
Clearly the political stomach for such a move is yet to be found.
The day of the ‘big man’ syndrome evident in many of our African neighbours and some Eastern European countries looks like being with us for a while to come.
In the face of the immense social, financial and health challenges we face as a country, the entrenchment of a privileged, immune and distanced political elite is something we can ill afford.
* Vijay Naidoo writes in his capacity as CEO of the Port Shepstone Business Forum. The views expressed are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect those of this publication.
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