ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula has been labelled a hypocrite over the party’s plans to cut ministerial perks. This comes barely a year after the former minister himself – nicknamed “Razmatazz” – was spotted in a R3 million G-Wagon during an election campaign.
The outspoken politician attempted to justify the government’s VAT increase, which will cover the costs of overruns and shortfalls within public sector funding.
The increase will be implemented on 1 May.
VAT INCREASE: FIKILE MBALULA SAYS MINISTERS’S PERKS WERE CUT
Speaking in an ANC media briefing on Thursday, 13 March, the Secretary-General elaborated on the government’s decision to implement a controversial VAT increase. The former minister who headed up the sport, transport, and police departments explained that cutting ministerial perks was not enough to fund South Africa’s R2.7 trillion budget.
Fikile added that the tax hike was a “realistic intervention” to accumulate and sustain government revenue.
He said, “Ministers have been affected by this cut. Blue lights are not money; they are cars. It’s just a traffic control measure, and it must not be abused.”
He continued: “Government had cut the expenditure of cars. Ministers used to drive cars in the range of R1 million. It was cut to R500 000. Perks like credit cards were taken away.
“Ministers are flying economy, that was cut from flying business domestically. You only fly business on international [which was], cut from first class to business. Ministers only approv the most important trips interationally”.
WHAT ABOUT THE G-WAGON?
Unsurprisingly, many South Africans on social media brought up Fikile Mbalulua’s own lavish lifestyle. This included him making headlines for driving around a township in a R3 million bulletproof G-Wagon during the party’s election campaign last year.
On the X app, BOSA leader Mmusi Maimane condemned Fikile’s claims.
Tweeting a clip of “Bra Fiks” in the flashy car, he posted: “South Africans are not stupid. They have seen you guys in G wagons”.
Last year, Mmusi publicly criticised Fikile over his actions, tweeting: “The people of Inanda have no water, they have no jobs, and the community is suffering.
“Fikile Mbalula and the ANC decide that they are going to show off their top range G wagon Mercs while asking poor and hungry South Africans for votes. Nasty work”.
Here’s what others had to say about Fikile’s justification of the VAT increase…
@SimonPGrindrod: “The same Fikile Mbalula drove to ANC manifesto launch in a R4 million car & took a private yacht to Robben Island for ANC anniversary party this year”.
@WitchPirate: “We’ll believe these lies once the lifestyle audits have been made public. Every last cent”.
@Markosonke1: “This guy can lie with a straight face! Next thing he’ll say, ministers are now taking taxis and eating kota for lunch to save on costs. Meanwhile, they’re just upgrading from German sedans to German SUVs!”.
WHO DOES THE G-WAGON BELONG TO?
Responding to the backlash last year, Fikile Mbalula told media during his walkabout: “We use different modes of cars. I don’t own a G-Wagon. If a G-Wagon is offered to our security as a means of mobility for the election, it doesn’t define us”.
Fikile added that “lies were pedalled” against his character as the vehicle belonged to bodyguard and security business owner Anwar “Dogg” Khan, who is accused of fraud and corruption.
He continued: “To make it an issue and sensationalise it is unfortunate.
“We have nothing to do with Mr Khan, and neither do we have any relationship.”
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