In reply to Build One South Africa (BOSA) Deputy Leader, Nobuntu Hlazo-Webster’s parliamentary question, the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Dean MacPherson, revealed that taxpayers are spending up to R4 million every year just to cover water and electricity for ministers’ official homes.
South Africa has 32 ministers, each allocated two state-owned residences in Cape Town and Pretoria. Government pays up to R5 000 per month per residence for water and electricity. 64 ministerial homes at R60 000 per year amounts to almost R4 million annually spent to keep the lights on and the taps running at these ministerial mansions.
Sadly, this is only the tip of the iceberg. In addition to free water and electricity, the same parliamentary reply reveals that:
- Each minister receives a state-funded domestic worker, paid for entirely by taxpayers.
- Government covers all gardening and garden maintenance costs, with no spending limit.
- Homes are deep-cleaned at the state’s expense whenever ministers move in.
While South Africans endure rising food prices, unreliable water supply, overcrowded classrooms, and collapsing municipal services, Cabinet Ministers enjoy fully serviced, fully subsidised luxury living. Ministers live in homes where taxpayers not only cover almost R4 million in utilities, but also pay for gardeners, cleaners, and maintenance with no cap.
BOSA is calling for the following urgent action:
- Immediate caps or removal of non-essential perks, especially for domestic and gardening services.
- Redirection of all savings into frontline services such as education, policing and infrastructure.
South Africans deserve leaders who live modestly and serve with integrity. We should accept that government elites are insulated from the hardship they are meant to solve.
BOSA will continue to expose wasteful expenditure and fight for an ethical, accountable government that puts the people first.
Media Enquiries:
Roger Solomons
BOSA Spokesperson
072 299 3551