VIP protection for ANC president Jacob Zuma is costing the taxpayer nearly R1 million every month, according to the Democratic Alliance."This means that protecting Zuma has cost taxpayers in the region of R50 million since his dismissal as deputy president in June 2005 -- a grossly inappropriate and excessive degree of expenditure on a single individual," said the party's safety and security spokeswoman Dianne Kohler Barnard in a statement on Thursday.
She was responding to a reply from Safety and Security Minister Nathi Mthethwa to a DA parliamentary question.
The R998,815 was spent on close protection, static protection, overtime, vehicle and telephone costs.
The party intended writing to Mthethwa on Friday to demand an explanation.
Kohler Barnard called it an "extraordinary waste" of taxpayers' money, especially given that the police was so chronically underfunded.
"Unless these answers are forthcoming it will be clear evidence of political favouritism. We will also at the first possible opportunity submit further parliamentary questions to ascertain whether other former deputy presidents receive such significant levels of protection," she said.
According to Friday's Star newspaper, Mthethwa, replying to another question, said the government had spent R2.3 million on legal fees for suspended police chief Jackie Selebi's corruption case.
Source : Sapa /th/sb
Date : 13 Mar 2009 07:50
