eThekwini Municipality load shedding

Load shedding was implemented in eThekwini from 1 August 2022 after being exempted due to the April 2022 floods. Photo: Pixabay

R2.6 MILLION: Taxpayers pay for installing, running generators at ministers’ homes

‘ANC Ministers are paid enormous salaries, and while they refuse to solve the country’s power disaster, they should at the very least pay for their own generators and fuel,’ said the DA.

eThekwini Municipality load shedding

Load shedding was implemented in eThekwini from 1 August 2022 after being exempted due to the April 2022 floods. Photo: Pixabay

The government has reportedly spent approximately R2.6 million to keep the lights on in the homes of cabinet ministers during load shedding. The Democratic Alliance (DA) said the African National Congress (ANC) must prioritise “helping vulnerable South Africans” instead.

TAXPAYERS PAY FOR GENERATORS

A CityPress report revealed that taxpayer money bankrolled the purchase and installation of generators at the official residences of ministers and deputy ministers in Pretoria.

A Department of Public Works and Infrastructure spokesperson said making ministers’ houses ‘load shedding proof’ cost R1.3 million in the previous financial year. Since 1 April 2022, a further R681 000 has been spent.

According to CityPress, running the generators cost R31 750 in the previous year. However, given the worsening load shedding, at least R621 000 has been spent since 1 April.

DA Shadow Minister of Public Works, Samantha Graham-Mare, pointed out that hospitals, businesses and ordinary citizens are not sheltered from the electricity rationing and have “to struggle in the dark.”

Graham-Mare believes the governing party should have used the money that powers ministers’ homes during load shedding to ensure that hospitals and clinics have electricity during the power cuts.

READ: Four-year-old turned away from Alexandra Clinic due to load shedding dies

“Minister De Lille must utilise taxpayers’ money to support the poor and vulnerable, not abuse it to ensure her and her fellow fat-cat Ministers’ comfort.

“ANC Ministers are paid enormous salaries, and while they refuse to solve the country’s power disaster, they should at the very least pay for their own generators and fuel,” said the opposition party’s shadow minister of public works.

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