Sameera Casmod | sameerac@radioislam.co.za
12 July 2023 | 00:00 CAT
2 min read

Photo Credit: EWN

To address what many South Africans view as an unnecessary allocation of resources and excessive protection for high-ranking officials, the Liberty Fighters Network (LFN) has taken their case to the Equality Court. The move challenges the notion that VIPs, including the president, vice president, and ministers, are entitled to extensive security measures at taxpayers’ expense.

In an interview with Radio Islam International, Reyno De Beer, the president of LFN, explained that the complaint’s basis is that such preferential treatment goes against the principles of equality enshrined in the country’s constitution. “They’re not entitled to that [preferential treatment],” he said.

The application comes after a series of assault incidents involving the VIP Protection Unit of the SAPS, tasked with safeguarding the president, deputy president, cabinet members, MECs and other dignitaries. LFN’s application, lodged on Monday, targets President Cyril Ramaphosa, Police Minister Bheki Cele, and National Police Commissioner Gen. Masemola. The organisation seeks to challenge the exclusive state protection service, arguing that it perpetuates discrimination and harassment against the rest of the population. By bringing this matter to the attention of the Equality Court at the High Court Gauteng Division in Pretoria, LFN aims to shed light on the need for equal treatment and fair distribution of security resources for all South Africans.

Speaking about their motivation for approaching the Equality Court, De Beer highlighted the discrepancy between the treatment of VIPs and ordinary citizens. He stated, “The fact of the matter is that actually constitutionally, the president, deputy president, and other dignitaries are not entitled to utilise the services of the police, the security services of South Africa. The constitution specifically says that the task of the police is to protect all the inhabitants of South Africa. So by distinguishing them as so-called VIPs, very important persons, basically makes them more equal than us.”

De Beer emphasised the need to address the issue beyond the conduct of the police and focus on the constitutional provisions that regulate the allocation of security resources. He added, “We are talking here about more than 80 officers allocated to each one of these VIPs on average, compared to one out of almost 400 or one police officer allocated to roughly 400 South Africans. So this is a big, big discrepancy. We are not living in wartimes. We would like to see our president for once drive around in a bicycle and also get stuck in traffic as well.”

Responding to the argument that security allocation should be proportionate to the need, the interviewee raised concerns about the discriminatory nature of categorising individuals as VIPs. He further expressed, “They can use their own resources, their own monies to obtain security services and definitely not utilise taxpayer’s; monies to foot their bill.”  De Beer emphasised the importance of treating all South Africans equally and argued that excessive protection for high-ranking officials was unjustified in a non-wartime environment.

The Equality Court process involves notifying the President, Minister of Police, and National Police Commissioner, the cited respondents. They have ten days to respond to the application. Subsequently, a judge will be assigned, and within seven days, a decision will be made on whether the case proceeds within the Equality Court or is transferred to another body for investigation.

The case raises important questions about the balance between providing the necessary security and upholding the principles of equality for all South Africans. As the Equality Court deliberates the matter, it remains to be seen whether adjustments will be made to allocating resources and security measures for high-ranking officials.

Listen to the full interview with Sulaimaan Ravat on Sabahul Muslim here.