The wives of President Jacob Zuma are extravagantly cared for by the state. About ZAR 9 million was spent on the purchase of ten vehicles between 2013 and 2016. The Democratic Alliance (DA) MP Zakhele Mbhele asked a parliamentary question and received a written reply from the Police Minister confirming the purchase. The vehicles were purchased through the budget of the police department. In the response, the Minister said the purchase was necessary “to provide comprehensive protection of VIP spouses.” Besides the lavish expenditure on vehicles, another ZAR125 million is held in reserve for VIP protection.
The former president Thabo Mbeki’s wife received an average of ZAR7.1 million per annum during the four-year term ending 2008. Since Zuma became president, there has been a steady increase in spousal support. Other related costs are not included. The expenditure for the presidency is usually guarded. It was in 2010 during a parliamentary question session that the last information was made available.
The DA has called for a stricter regulatory framework for spousal support,
and the Economic Freedom Fighters said
the party would stop presidential spousal
support. While South African taxpayers foot the bill, tighter control on expenditure is essential.
The government is
taking scandalous efforts to defend Zuma while the country burns. Expenditure
has spiraled out of control and corruption continues to drag the country into
chaos. The poor have no more to give and are now resorting to violence in an
attempt to attract the government to attend to their petitions. The wives of
Zuma are taken care of while millions of
starving children in the townships have nothing.
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