Azra Hoosen | ah@radioislam.co.za
4 January 2025 | 11:15 CAT
3 min read

The High Court has ruled against the City of Johannesburg’s controversial VIP protection policy, declaring it unlawful and unconstitutional. The policy, which has faced widespread criticism for prioritising the safety of politicians over essential public services, has now been struck down.

Speaking to Radio Islam, Belinda Kayser-Echeozonjoku, the Democratic Alliance’s (DA) Johannesburg Regional Leader, hailed the High Court ruling as a victory for the city’s residents, emphasising the importance of holding the city accountable. She explained that the DA’s legal challenge was prompted by the city’s failure to comply with the constitution after repeated requests for action. She stressed that the ruling reaffirmed the independence of the judiciary, highlighting that public funds cannot be misused without accountability or transparency.

When asked how the R3 Million monthly budget for VIP protection could be better utilised, Kayser-Echeozonjoku clarified that the actual amount exceeds R3 Million, citing documents obtained through a written question by former councillor and now MPL, Michael Sun. She pointed out that, aside from the MMCs, senior city officials, including the city manager, also receive VIP protection, further inflating the cost.

Kayser-Echeozonjoku emphasised that this money could be better spent on addressing urgent issues like the city’s ongoing water crisis. “Now, a portion of that could be used not only to fix potholes but to resurface portions of roads that are problematic. We have problems with upgrades and public lighting, where people are driving in the dark. People’s tyres are getting spiked. There are also robots not working. Some of these upgrades and maintenance repairs, some of these monies could go towards that,” she said. She further criticised the misuse of funds for VIP protection, stating, “It’s completely unacceptable because the money should be spent on service delivery.”

When asked about the DA’s next steps to ensure compliance with the court ruling and prevent similar policies in the future, Kayser-Echeozonjoku outlined a multi-step approach. She explained that the DA had initially requested the city to comply with the constitution, and now, following the ruling, the party is scrutinising the unconstitutional policy in detail. The DA is examining the judgment, reviewing the policy, and analysing the responses to written questions, including troubling provisions such as VIP protection for the children of politicians.

The DA is also investigating whether city officials advised the administration appropriately. If they find that the advice was incorrect, the DA plans to pursue accountability by reporting the involved politicians to the Auditor-General to ensure the misused funds are recouped. In the case of professional negligence by officials, they intend to escalate the matter to professional bodies, COCTA, and other relevant government authorities. Citing the landmark judgment in Nelson Mandela Bay, she emphasised that accountability must be enforced and will set a precedent for future actions in Johannesburg.

She highlighted additional issues with the policy, such as providing VIP protection to politicians even after they leave office, which she argued was unacceptable given the city’s ongoing safety challenges. The DA believes the policy was rushed through council without proper scrutiny, ultimately prioritising politicians’ safety over residents’ needs.

“We’ll always be on the side of residents, and I always say this to anybody that asks me. I’m a resident of Johannesburg, and I pay my rates, and I expect services for the utilities or the rates that I pay. And, we will continue to probe these questions,” she asserted.

She explained that when the DA raises concerns, they first seek resolution through the Section 79 committee and council. If the desired outcomes for the residents are not achieved, they escalate the matter to other spheres of government, such as COCTA, the Auditor-General, and National Treasury.

Kayser-Echeozonjoku emphasised that the DA will continue to hold the administration accountable to ensure that residents’ money is spent appropriately. She stated that residents pay for services and deserve to see their money directed towards improving their quality of life, rather than misused in policies like VIP protection.

LISTEN to the full interview with Ml Ibrahim Daya and Belinda Kayser-Echeozonjoku, DA Johannesburg caucus leader, here.