The costs of running President Jacob Zuma’s homes in Pretoria and Cape Town are 40% more than those incurred by former President Kgalema Motlanthe according to figures presented in a written answer to Parliament in response to a question from the Democratic Alliance.
The running costs at Mahlamba Ndlopfu in Pretoria rose from R1,648-million in the 2008/09 financial year to R2,75-million in the following year while at Genadendal, the running costs increased from R923 000 to R944 000.
The costs exclude structural maintenance to either of the properties.
Earlier this year, the government admitted that R15-million in taxpayers’ money was being spent to support Zuma’s wives and children. This was almost double the R8-million spent the year before.
Clearly deputy president Motlanthe is more frugal than other members of the government because the costs of running the official residences, Highstead, in Cape Town and OR Tambo in Pretoria, have dropped since he occupied the homes vacated by former deputy president Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka.
Government spokesman Collins Chabane refused to disclose how many days of each year were spent by the President and deputy president at the official residences they are entitled to use.
Obviously if Motlanthe is never at the home then it would not be surprising to see the costs had fallen but bear in mind that when he did spend a short spell as the President of the country, costs then were also reduced.
Maybe Motlanthe’s example could be followed by many, many more government officials who are on board the taxpayer-funded gravy train.
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