Gauteng Education Spokesperson must pay back nearly R1 million spent on VIP protection

7 June 2023

The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng is demanding that the Gauteng Department of Education Spokesperson, Steve Mabona, must pay back R865 058,98 paid by the department for being driven around by VIP security. The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) has no mandate and no policy to provide personal security and protection.

While the Premier’s office is tasked with providing personal security and protection, it simply submitted a claim to the GDE. This money that has been wasted by the department on Mabona’s VIP protection could have been used to fix school infrastructure and ensure a conducive learning and teaching environment for learners and teachers.

This information was revealed by the Gauteng MEC for Education, Matome Chiloane, in a written reply to the DA’s questions tabled in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL).

According to MEC Matome, Mabona was provided with security on 399 trips totalling 19427km. The VIP protection for Mabona included two guards, vehicles and operational costs.

The fact that the department has no policy to provide personal security and protection for staff members and that they paid for Mabona’s VIP protection means that he has unduly benefited at the expense of taxpayers.

The DA demands that he must pay back the money to the department. We will continue to monitor this matter to ensure that he pays back the money, and that the department’s money is used for the benefit of our children’s education.

Issued by Sergio dos Santos, DA Gauteng's Spokesperson for Education, 7 June 2023