COPE condemns another example of ANC wasting taxpayers' money

COPE condemns another example of the ANC looting state resources and wasting taxpayers' money on its party members. Despite him not being an office bearer, Jacob Zuma's monthly protection bill is costing the SA taxpayer about 1 million rand a month.

In fact, around fifty million rand of SA taxpayer's money has been spent on Zuma's security since his dismissal as deputy president in 2005

COPE believes this is an excessive amount to spend on a single person, especially when the state is apparently underfunded in other key areas like the SAPS and pension grants for the elderly.

COPE notes that former presidents, holding state office, like Nelson Mandela and Thabo Mbeki used state security, however Zuma is not an office bearer, his security is excessive and expensive and is obviously designed as a show of force.

The money could be more effectively used to help fight crime by funding the SAPS more appropriately. COPE feels it is a gross misuse of state resources for this amount of money to be spent on protecting one ANC member when all South Africans are under attack from crime.

Statement issued by the Congress of the People March 13 2009

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