Sat. Nov 2nd, 2024

Johannesburg, October 9, 2024 — The South African Police Service (SAPS) has disclosed that nearly R400 million in overtime has been paid to members of the VIP Protection Unit over the past two years to safeguard ministers and deputy ministers. This figure was revealed in a written response from Police Minister Senzo Mchunu during a session in the National Assembly, following inquiries from the political party Rise Mzansi regarding the expenses associated with protecting high-ranking officials.

In the 2022/23 financial year alone, the SAPS allocated a substantial R198 million for overtime costs incurred by the VIP Protection Unit. Although this figure decreased to R161 million in the subsequent year, the overall expenditure remains significant.

Mchunu’s report indicated that all close-protection officers are claiming a consistent 100 hours of overtime each month due to the extraordinary demands of their roles. This high number of claimed hours has raised concerns about the sustainability and management of overtime within the unit.

Makashule Gana, a member of parliament from Rise Mzansi, has projected that the overtime expenses will likely increase even further. With a Cabinet consisting of 32 ministers and 43 deputy ministers, the demand for security services is expected to rise sharply. “With more VIPs in the form of ministers and deputy ministers, it is inevitable that during the current term of office, the SAPS VIP Protection Unit overtime bill will increase sharply,” he stated.

The party has urged the police minister to collaborate with the Department of Public Service and Administration and the National Treasury to develop a remuneration model that does not rely heavily on overtime payments. This call for reform is aimed at creating a more efficient and sustainable framework for compensating close-protection officers while managing the financial burden on the government.

As the debate around the cost of VIP protection continues, the SAPS faces increasing scrutiny regarding its budgeting priorities and resource allocation, particularly in a time when public funds are under significant pressure. The findings raise important questions about the balance between ensuring the safety of government officials and managing state resources effectively.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *