Tax payers heavily burdened in order to keep Dlamini-Zuma save during her election campaign
Since November last year, more than R800 000 of tax payers’ money was used to finance Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma’s blue-light cavalcade meant to ensure her safety during her campaign to become president of the ANC and possibly also of South Africa, says Dr Pieter Groenewald, leader of the FF Plus.
The information was gleaned from a response to a written parliamentary question that Dr Groenewald addressed to the Minister of Police, Mr Fikile Mbalula. Earlier today, when asked about the cost of protecting Dr Dlamini-Zuma, the Minister answered that since 1 November 2016 it amounts to R797 724,62.
The Minister was not willing to disclose any further information as it could, according to him, “disclose protected security information”.
Dr Groenewald says that the public must take note of the fact that Dr Dlamini-Zuma is already squandering their money even though she does not even hold an office in South Africa.
“If someone had threatened her, it should have been reported to the police. According to the available information, that has not happened. Besides, the Minister also admitted that she was only offered protection on the basis of a ‘risk analysis’ performed by the state security agency and the police’s crime intelligence unit.
“Clearly, Dr Dlamini-Zuma’s presidential protection is nothing but a misuse of state money to further her election campaign.
“All South Africans probably feel threatened due to the high crime rate and every year millions of rands are spent on safety and security. Surely, nobody feels more threatened than our country’s farmers and rightfully so, but there is no special VIP protection for them.
“The ANC needs to realise that the public do take note of things like these and that they are sick and tired of the corruption and wanton waste,” says Dr Groenewald.
Text of reply:
MINISTRY OF POLICE
REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA
36/1/4/1/201700416
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
FOR WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION 3296
DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 27 OCTOBER 2017
(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 39-2017)
3296. Dr P J Groenewald (FF Plus) to ask the Minister of Police:
(1) What is the cost attached to providing personal protection for a certain person (name and particulars furnished) since 1 November 2016;
(2) whether he will make a statement about the matter?
NW3685E
REPLY:
(1) The total cost for providing security for the specified person, from 1 November 2016, is R 797 724,62.
(2) No, further details may expose protected security information, furthermore a statement is not a requirement, in terms of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA).
ENDS
Statement issued by Dr. Pieter Groenewald, FF Plus leader, 28 November 2017
