News24 reports that according to former labour minister Mildred Oliphant, parliament's benefits structure should be reviewed, as many former cabinet ministers have to consider forfeiting half of a loss-of-office gratuity if they are demoted.  

In an interview on PowerFm on Thursday morning, Oliphant explained that she resigned as a Member of Parliament, partly to avoid losing benefits at a certain salary level.  It was reported earlier that Oliphant was the latest in a string of resignations to hit the National Assembly.  She joined a list of former ministers who resigned after they were left out of President Cyril Ramaphosa's recently formed Cabinet.  Asked why she resigned, Oliphant said that "unfortunately, the situation when it comes to the calculation of benefits for members is based on your last salary that you've been receiving … if I had to stay in Parliament, looking at my last salary, I would be forfeiting around 50 to 55 per cent of the benefits."  She also said that the second reason was that a lot of experienced former ministers could be deployed elsewhere, but that their parliamentary funds couldn't be transferred to a new fund, as was the case with some corporate pensions.  Oliphant acknowledged that when her party deployed members, it was for a five-year term and it was not obligated thereafter to reappoint a member in a given position.  Reflecting on her tenure as labour minister, Oliphant she said it was an honour to have finished her term.

• Read the full original of Ethan van Diemen’s report on the above at News24

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