Neelam Rahim | neelam@radioislam.co.za

3 min read
11 December 2022 | 9:30 pm CAT

With Stage 6 load shedding continuing, Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Manthase accused Eskom of actively agitating to overthrow the state. He was speaking at the signing ceremony for 13 new independent power projects.

He added that Eskom had to fix its operational problems. At the same time, it emerged that while the country faces long hours with no electricity, the same does not apply to ministers.

Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure Patricia de Lille has revealed that her Department has spent nearly R800 thousand on diesel to run generators at the Ministers’ house. But the Department is also spending money on replacing generators for these ministers.

Radio Islam International discusses the allegations with the DA’s Samantha Graham.

Earlier reports revealed that 2.6 million Rand was spent to keep the lights burning in ministers’ houses. 1.3 million was spent last year and another R681 000 this year.

According to Graham, there needs to be more clarity on whether the 13 replacement generator fee forms part of the above amounts.

The old Ministerial Handbook that applied before the President secretly changed read that ministers were entitled to an allowance of up to R5000 monthly electricity at their Ministerial houses.

When the Handbook contents came to light, the DA wrote to the Public Protector to investigate and still await an outcome, as well as to the Minister in Presidency.

DA is currently looking into potentially fringe benefits taxes that the minister should have incurred due to them having the benefit, as per Graham.

“It is completely unjustified and should never have been allowed to happen. There is absolutely no reason why taxpayers sitting in the dark should be funding ministers sitting with lights,” she added.

Listen to the interview on Radio Islam’s podcast below.