THERE is a growing concern over a rule change that allows for ministers and deputy ministers to not have to pay for utilities, including water and electricity, says the head of legal at the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA), Stefanie Fick.
Speaking with ENCA, Fick said opposition parties are looking into changes made in the ministerial handbook in May that removed a cap on the value of utilities that would be covered by taxpayers’ money, prescribed by the Department of Public Works under Patricia De Lille.
Prior to this change, ministers were only exempt from paying their bills if the balance fell below a R5,000 cap.
The City Press reported on 9 October that the new handbook reads: “The department responsible for public works shall be responsible for the costs associated with the provision of water and electricity to official residences”.
While the previous version stated: “The department responsible for
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