President Cyril Ramaphosa has withdrawn a controversial amendment to the ministerial handbook that would have seen taxpayers forking out millions more in allowances for cabinet ministers and their deputies.
Presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said late Monday that Ramaphosa has withdrawn the amendment to the Ministerial Handbook following a public outcry.
“Where we are now, we are at a stage where the president has listened. The president appreciates the public outcry in the context of the economic and social pressures that a lot of South Africans are facing,” Magwenya told journalists.
The amendment would have seen an increase in water and electricity allowances, more domestic staff and other perks for ministers and deputy ministers, a development that would have seen South African taxpayers forking out an additional R87 million (about US$4.8 million) per year.
He said Ramaphosa has ordered the withdrawal of the amendment, pending a review.
The u-turn followed a threat by the opposition Democratic Alliance to march in Pretoria against the proposed increase in allowances.
DA spokesperson Leon Schreiber on Monday said the main opposition party had laid a complaint with the Public Protector “over the apparent fact that there is no law that provides for the existence of the ministerial handbook.”
JN/APA