There’s been reduction in ministers’ perks over the years, says Gungubele
Minister in the Presidency Mondli Gungubele claims there has been a reduction in the number of perks enjoyed by members of the executive over the past few years.
Gungubele briefed the media on the outcomes of the weekly cabinet meeting in Pretoria on Thursday.
"If you follow this administration, the perks of cabinet ministers have been going down. Are they going down at a rate that impresses anyone? Maybe the neutral process, which is independent of us in dealing with that, will assist,” Gungubele said.
The ministerial handbook, which outlines the perks and privileges enjoyed by ministers, has come under scrutiny after it emerged that officials are not paying for water and electricity.
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The latest iteration of the handbook also allowed ministers to increase the number of staff reporting to them.
The outcry has led to President Cyril Ramaphosa ordering a review of the ministerial handbook.
Gungubele says the review would be led by a neutral body, as per President Ramaphosa's directive.
"I would prefer that we leave it to an independent body. But I can tell you that ministers have always been prepared to reduce staff, to reduce a number of perks.
"Maybe the ministers in the public administration, when they come, they will show all the time the number of benefits that the ministers have always been prepared to forsake. The details of this must be left to the independent body that the president has spoken about."
