DA vows to push for revision of ministerial handbook

This after President Cyril Ramaphosa withdrew the latest version on Monday, saying the April amendments would be reviewed. 

The changes provoked nationwide outpouring of shock and outrage, as they would've seen ministers and their deputies receiving free water and electricity, among other benefits. 

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The DA wrote to the Office of the Public Protector saying they were approved in secret. 

"Through our complaint to the public protector, we hope to replace the current system, which gives the president powers to force taxpayers to pay for ministerial perks, with the new system where Parliament decides which benefits may be necessary in particular cases," says the DA's Leon Schreiber. 

President Ramaphosa's spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said the president acknowledged the strong public opinion around the matter. 

"I suppose, with hindsight, we can say the intention behind the amendment was not a nefarious one. The intention was to try and find some form of balance between was ministers could afford to pay versus some of the costs that they have. 

"Be that as it may, we can no longer debate that outcry and the merits of the outcry, except to say let's accept what the public has given us as a message and let's conduct a necessary review."