ActionSA has formally lodged complaints with the Public Protector and Parliament’s Ethics Committee following serious allegations that senior Democratic Alliance (DA) public representatives have received additional “top-up” payments from the party in potential violation of the Constitution.
Section 96 of the Constitution makes it unambiguously clear that members of the executive may not undertake any other paid work. Yet a leaked internal report suggests that both the Minister of Agriculture, John Steenhuisen, and the Deputy Minister of Finance, Ashor Sarupen, may have received regular, structured payments linked to roles performed within their political party.
If confirmed, this would amount to a striking situation in which members of the executive are effectively being paid twice: once by South African public taxpayers and again by their political party. One would expect that the lavish, billion-rand perks of being a Minister or Deputy Minister would suffice for the DA’s public representatives, but apparently, they do not.
Interestingly, these substantial top-up payments were also not declared as additional work or remuneration in the Register of Members’ Interests, which raises a host of further concerns and necessitated that we also file a complaint with Parliament’s Ethics Committee.
It is becoming increasingly apparent that taxpayers are funding billions for the luxury perks and VIP protection of Ministers and their redundant Deputies, who display shocking profligacy while expecting the same taxpayers to tighten their belts.
From the wasteful expenditure of nearly half a billion rand on luxury travel to the failure to declare their financial interests, a systemic disregard for accountability and proper stewardship of public funds has come to represent how little regard the GNU has for the people of South Africa.
As the constructive opposition in Parliament, ActionSA will ensure that all members of the executive—regardless of party—are held to the same standard, because there can be no exceptions.
ActionSA Files Public Protector and Ethics Committee Complaint Against DA Cabinet Members for Undeclared Remuneration
ActionSA has formally lodged complaints with the Public Protector and Parliament’s Ethics Committee following serious allegations that senior Democratic Alliance (DA) public representatives have received additional “top-up” payments from the party in potential violation of the Constitution.
Section 96 of the Constitution makes it unambiguously clear that members of the executive may not undertake any other paid work. Yet a leaked internal report suggests that both the Minister of Agriculture, John Steenhuisen, and the Deputy Minister of Finance, Ashor Sarupen, may have received regular, structured payments linked to roles performed within their political party.
If confirmed, this would amount to a striking situation in which members of the executive are effectively being paid twice: once by South African public taxpayers and again by their political party. One would expect that the lavish, billion-rand perks of being a Minister or Deputy Minister would suffice for the DA’s public representatives, but apparently, they do not.
Interestingly, these substantial top-up payments were also not declared as additional work or remuneration in the Register of Members’ Interests, which raises a host of further concerns and necessitated that we also file a complaint with Parliament’s Ethics Committee.
It is becoming increasingly apparent that taxpayers are funding billions for the luxury perks and VIP protection of Ministers and their redundant Deputies, who display shocking profligacy while expecting the same taxpayers to tighten their belts.
From the wasteful expenditure of nearly half a billion rand on luxury travel to the failure to declare their financial interests, a systemic disregard for accountability and proper stewardship of public funds has come to represent how little regard the GNU has for the people of South Africa.
As the constructive opposition in Parliament, ActionSA will ensure that all members of the executive—regardless of party—are held to the same standard, because there can be no exceptions.