Police Minister Senzo Mchunu. Picture: Jacques Naude/Independent Newspapers
Cape Town - Police Minister Senzo Mchunu has revealed the SAPS spent over R359m on overtime for VIP protection services between 2022 and 2024, with additional money spent on in-transit and static protection services for government officials.
This was made public during a recent parliamentary question session.
The question was raised by Member of the National Assembly, Makashule Gana, who asked about the amount of overtime the police paid to VIP officers for the years 2022, 2023 and 2024.
“Regarding overtime for the Very Important Person (VIP) Protection Unit, what total amount in overtime has the SA Police Service paid to VIP protection officers for the (a) 2022/23 and (b) 2023/24 financial years; (2) other than the Presidential Protection Service, (a) which Ministers and/or Ministries have had officers claiming the most overtime and (b) what are the relevant details of the top five Ministries where officers have had the most claims?” Gana asked.
Mchunu answered that the total amount of overtime the police paid to VIP protection officers for the period 2022/23 and 2023/24 financial years was R 198 045 844 and R 161 885 074 respectively.
This was followed by Dereleen James, Deputy Chairperson of the Multi Party Women’s Caucus and member of Action SA, who asked what the total cost to Mchunu’s department for each member of the VIP Protection Unit for the financial years of 2020/21, 2022/23 and 2023/24.
In response, Mchunu said the budget and expenditure for the rendering of protection and security services by the police to the executive were managed as a national budget and unfortunately not per member of the executive.
“The total costs for these services (excluding salary and benefits) amounts to: The total cost for the 2020/21 financial year is R168 764 564 for in-transit protection services and R17 313 958 for static protection services,” he explained.
He further revealed the total cost for the 2021/22 financial year was R237 358 012 for in-transit protection services and R22 164 695 for static protection services.
“The total cost for the 2022/23 financial year is R250 981 442 for in-transit protection services and R90 673 284 for static protection services,” he added.
“The total cost for the 2023/24 financial year is R221 349 041 for in-transit protection services and R50 012 246 for static protection services.
“The total cost for the 2024/25 to date financial year is R215 581 228, for in-transit protection services and R40 303 757 for static protection services.”