ActionSA is deeply concerned about the continued abuse of municipal resources under the guise of security for councillors.
To date, the Metro Police overtime bill has exceeded R37 million, and much of this is not linked to genuine law enforcement. Instead, Metro Police officers are being used as bodyguards for councillors, driving them around instead of protecting our communities.
While we acknowledge that certain councillors face genuine threats and require protection, we cannot accept this misuse of public funds while crime, illegal dumping, and lawlessness continue to grow in eThekwini.
We call on councillors who are receiving protection without valid justification to do the right thing and withdraw the security, as continuing to do so constitutes a misuse of taxpayer funds.
We are aware that more than 60 councillors are receiving VIP bodyguards and are assigned municipal vehicles. The cost of this security is now over R100 million per year, excluding vehicle expenses.
What is even more shocking is that many of these councillors do not have SAPS threat analysis reports to justify this level of protection. This will undoubtedly raise audit queries and reflect poor oversight.
This reckless expenditure is an insult to the ratepayers of eThekwini.
Councillors and the leadership of the municipality must be held accountable for the misuse of public funds.
While officials are often called to account for their actions, it should not be difficult to demand the same accountability from political leadership and councillors.
Therefore, we will write to CoGTA and request for a full investigation into this matter. The millions wasted on VIP protection could be redirected to service delivery, fixing streetlights, patching potholes, and improving safety for ordinary residents.
ActionSA stands for accountability, transparency, and putting the people of eThekwini first.
ActionSA will write to COGTA to raise serious concerns about the R100 million spent on protection for councillors
ActionSA is deeply concerned about the continued abuse of municipal resources under the guise of security for councillors.
To date, the Metro Police overtime bill has exceeded R37 million, and much of this is not linked to genuine law enforcement. Instead, Metro Police officers are being used as bodyguards for councillors, driving them around instead of protecting our communities.
While we acknowledge that certain councillors face genuine threats and require protection, we cannot accept this misuse of public funds while crime, illegal dumping, and lawlessness continue to grow in eThekwini.
We call on councillors who are receiving protection without valid justification to do the right thing and withdraw the security, as continuing to do so constitutes a misuse of taxpayer funds.
We are aware that more than 60 councillors are receiving VIP bodyguards and are assigned municipal vehicles. The cost of this security is now over R100 million per year, excluding vehicle expenses.
What is even more shocking is that many of these councillors do not have SAPS threat analysis reports to justify this level of protection. This will undoubtedly raise audit queries and reflect poor oversight.
This reckless expenditure is an insult to the ratepayers of eThekwini.
Councillors and the leadership of the municipality must be held accountable for the misuse of public funds.
While officials are often called to account for their actions, it should not be difficult to demand the same accountability from political leadership and councillors.
Therefore, we will write to CoGTA and request for a full investigation into this matter. The millions wasted on VIP protection could be redirected to service delivery, fixing streetlights, patching potholes, and improving safety for ordinary residents.
ActionSA stands for accountability, transparency, and putting the people of eThekwini first.