Gauteng Education denies claims of VIP security for spokesperson

Mosuwe was responding to allegations by the DA in the province that the department’s spokesperson Steve Mabona is being driven around by VIP security.  

“Steve does not have security at this stage, so for people to claim he has security at this stage is false. But sometime in 2022, he received death threats via his phone and as the accounting officer when he presented those death threats, I submitted them to the police commissioner.

“A security assessment was done by the SAPS and on the report we received, it was directed that we immediately put up 24-hour security around him and for three months the department put security around him,” Edward Mosuwe said.       

Mosuwe says a reassessment was conducted after three months and the security team was dismissed.  

“After a period of 3 months, we then got a reassessment to determine if the threat was still there and when it was determined that the threat was no longer there, the security was then dismissed. So, allegations that he was wasting taxpayer’s money are not true. His life was at risk and the department acted accordingly.”    

The DA’s Gauteng spokesperson for Education Sergio dos Santos says if they find Mabona wasted money, he must pay it back. 

“The DA will be tabling follow-up questions to determine how much has been spent by the department to provide VIP security to Mabona and the length of time for this service. We also want to know how much has been spent on conducting the threat assessment. The MEC must provide us with a copy of the policy which outlines why a spokesperson in certain circumstances would receive VIP protection.

“If it is found that the policy is an attempt to squander taxpayers' money, the MEC must urgently review this policy. Should it be found that Mabona unduly benefited from VIP security, he must pay back the money to the department.” 

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