Comment on the news

IDLE CIVIL SERVANTS COST TAXPAYER'S IN SOUTH AFRICA MILLIONS

In a country battered by crime and saddled with a creaking bureaucracy, suspended civil servants – including top law enforcers − are costing taxpayers millions of rands every month. Some have been sitting at home on full pay for more than a year. Others have been placed on special leave because they are facing criminal charges or because there are internal inquiries taking place. According to the Pretoria News these public servants come from all tiers of government: from office cleaners to law enforcement officials to executives of parastatals. Top law enforcement officials drawing salaries while they remain outside the office include Scorpions head Vusi Pikoli, who was suspended last year and now awaits the decision of the Ginwala inquiry, and Police Commissioner Jackie Selebi, who will be on paid leave for some time because he has had his contract renewed – even though he is facing corruption charges. Ekurhuleni police chief Robert McBride has been on special leave with full pay for more than a year while on trial on charges of driving under the influence of alcohol, defeating the ends of justice and fraud. In Cape Town, his counterpart, Bongani Jonas, has been suspended on full pay while the City of Cape Town conducts an internal investigation. Meanwhile, corruption-prone government departments are footing the bill for thousands of suspended officials.
"The ruling elite of South Africa is busy to drain the countries resources at an alarming rate and Vukuzenzele Democratic Movement (VDM) strongly condemns this state of affairs.The legal costs of the Zuma saga also adds up to the millions wasted.
Money which could be allocated for youth development and skills training to provide better opportunities for those who are also looking forward to experience something positive from our Democracy - a Democracy which the ANC is now busy destroying"
Ben du Koker
Secretary - General
VDM