Cyril Ramaphosa makes a U-turn on perks and luxuries for SA ministers after public outcry

Cape Town – President Cyril Ramaphosa has withdrawn the amendment to the ministerial handbook, pending a review.

This was announced by the president’s spokesperson Vincent Magwenyduring a media briefing on the president’s programme for the week at the Union Building on Monday.

The move followed a public outcry after it emerged that ministers and their deputies had unlimited free water and electricity as perks of the executive.

According to The Citizen, the politicians, earning R2 million and R2.4 million, were exempted from paying rates and these services after  Ramaphosa changed the rules of Cabinet’s perks.

The change was made in April when electricity tariffs increased, the report said, adding that this meant that the Department of Public Works would now pay for the water and electricity at state-owned residences.

Magwenya said the president had heard the public outcry caused by the amendment, reported BusinessTech.

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“President Ramaphosa has ordered the withdrawal process of the presidential minute on the Executive Memebers’ guide – commonly known as the ministerial handbook – of 2022. The withdrawal will give effect to the 2019 version of the guide, pending a review,” the report quoted Magwenya as saying.

Under the 2019 version of the handbook, ministers received R5 000 off their utility bills, with the balance being paid out of pocket, the report said.

Magwenya said the president “acknowledges and appreciates the public sentiments on the matter” but denied the amendments were made in “secret”, reported TimesLIVE.

“However, the impression created that the amendments were conducted in secret to avoid public scrutiny is false,” Magwenya said, adding that the intention behind the amendment was not a “nefarious one”.

“With hindsight, the intention behind the amendment was not a nefarious one.

“The intention was to try to find some form of balance between what ministers could afford to pay vs some of the costs they have,” Magwenya was quoted as saying.

Magwenya said the necessary review would ensure the next version of the guide was aligned not only to public expectations but with the realities of many South Africans.

No timelines were stated for the review, however, the president wanted it concluded soon, the report said.