News24 writes that according to a report in the Sunday Times, high-earning Members of Parliament are preparing to resist a move to trim some of their benefits.
The weekly newspaper wrote that the independent commission for remuneration of public office bearers is set to review Parliament’s benefits scheme. MPs heard last week that Parliament will spend an extra R111m in "loss of office" gratuities this year in order to pay 159 MPs who didn't return to their seats after the elections. Those who didn't make it back to Parliament are entitled to a once-off gratuity of four months' salary for every five-year term completed, paid over and above normal pension benefits. ANC MP Peace Mabe, co-chair of the committee on the financial management of Parliament, reportedly said they wouldn't want to see their benefits being affected as they left their homes to "come and serve the country". In her view, there should in fact be a call to "enhance" benefits as some MPs have expressed dissatisfaction at the current level. It is not yet clear which benefits could be trimmed among the many perks received by MPs. The report also indicated that the taxpayer is forking out R120m a year on airline tickets for approximately 2,000 current and former MPs, ministers and their families. According to AfricaCheck, Cabinet ministers earn R2,401,633 a year (or R200,136 a month) and "regular" MPs earn R1,106,940 a year, or R92,245 a month.
- Read the full original of the above report by Ntwaagae Seleka at News24
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page