South Africa ponders plans to stop politicians living their best lives

According to a report by the Sunday Times, the South African government has plans to revise the current ministerial handbook in a bid to curb wasteful expenditure.

Ayanda Dlodlo told the Sunday Times that the rules will prevent ministers from flying first class and taking their partners on unlimited international trips. The government is also pondering bringing an end to splurges on luxury vehicles.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has previously claimed that South Africa has one of the biggest ministerial cabinets in the world.

Where ministers spend their money

According to the DA’s analysis, over R188 million has been spent on property, at an average of R5.7 million per property. That’s 33 properties in Pretoria and Cape Town. The party also noted the astronomical amount of money that is allowed for on luxury vehicles – a total of R229 million.

The formula for money spent on cars has, for a long time, allowed to accomodate 70 percent of ministers’ salaries for vehicles.

Dlodlo herself was noted to have a R1 million Audi A7 back in 2017.

It’s important to note that not all ministers max out their budgets, but that two vehicles are allowed – one for Cape Town and one for Pretoria – has been a bone of contention for a long time.

This allowance is due to South Africa having different capitals (three in total, including the judicial capital, Bloemfontein). Because parliament is in Cape Town and the legislative capital in Pretoria, the logistical complications are a minefield.

There have been some murmurs about relocating Parliament from Cape Town to Pretoria.

These proposals were first mooted in the 1990s, but plans were shelved after strong opposition from the ruling ANC in the Western Cape.

Cost audits on what such a move would cost are ongoing, but cutting back on luxury allowances seems a sensible step in trimming bloated budgets for an economy that needs all the cents it can get.

The astonishing amount of cash splashed on cars also isn’t new, either. In 2011, there were reports that the allowance for cars could be cut. Back then, Pravin Gordhan (finance minister at the time) opted for a Lexus – the cheapest among cars bought by cabinet ministers.