DEMOCRATIC ALLIANCE PUTS ZUMA

THE STAR NEWSPAPER
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA
MARCH 13, 2009

The Democratic Alliance on Friday asked Safety and Security Minister Nathi Mthethwa for a breakdown of police spending on ANC President Jacob Zuma, as well as other former deputy presidents and presidents.

Earlier, it emerged from a written reply to a parliamentary question Mthethwa gave to DA MP Dianne Kohler-Barnard that VIP protection for Zuma was costing the taxpayer nearly R1-million every month.

Mthethwa said R998,815 was spent on close protection, static protection, overtime, vehicle and telephone costs.

In a letter to Mthethwa on Friday, Kohler-Barnard said this appeared to be an excessive level of spending on any one individual.

"And I would request that you provide a further breakdown of the Police Service's expenditure on Mr Zuma, and details of why this is deemed necessary, and what specific threats could warrant such extensive protection," she said.

"In order to dispel the notion that political favouritism has played a role in granting Mr Zuma such extensive security services, I would also kindly ask that you provide details of SAPS expenditure on protection services for other past and present government leaders - including former deputy presidents Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka and FW de Klerk, former president Thabo Mbeki, and President Kgalema Motlanthe."

Kohler-Barnard said it was also particularly alarming to note that spending on the VIP Protection Service had increased considerably in recent years, even while other areas of the Police Service continued to suffer from severe backlogs and resource shortfalls.

Spending on the VIP protection service had increased at the national level by 72 percent over the past five years.

There had also been massive increases in spending on VIP services in provinces, such as Mpumalanga (up 194 percent over five years), Limpopo (96 percent), North West (145 percent) and Free State (222 percent).

"These kind of spending increases clearly need justification. I trust that you will heed to these requests.

"There is a growing perception that Mr Zuma is receiving preferential treatment, and the costs of his security services appear to be grossly excessive, and an unwarranted drain on the country's - and your department's - limited resources," she said. - Sapa