What does the Secretary of Parliament Xolile George do to earn R4.9m?

Questions have been raised about what the role of the Secretary of Parliament entails following heightened calls for a full investigation by the Public Protector into Xolile George’s salary package.

A report by Auditor-General Tsakani Maluleke revealed that George’s post, initially advertised for R2.6 million per year, was increased to R4.9 million.

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Lawson Naidoo, Executive Secretary of the Council for the Advancement of the South African Constitution (CASAC), explained that the Secretary to Parliament is the equivalent of the Director-General of a government department.

“The secretary is accountable to the Speaker of the National Assembly and the Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces. They ensure all the administrative services that parliament requires, from translation services to procedural issues... everything that goes with the running of Parliament.”

But while it is complex and demanding, Naidoo questioned the justification for the salary increase.

“There has been no clear explanation as to why the salary of the current secretary has escalated in the way that it has… The R2.6 million is already slightly higher than that of a director-general of a government department.

“There is speculation that his previous position, as the head of the South African Local Government Association (SALGA), commanded such a salary. But that begs the question, why should an institution like SALGA, which forms nowhere near as important a function as Parliament, be paying a higher salary than the Secretary of Parliament or a director-general of a government department?”

To listen to Naidoo in conversation with 702’s John Perlman, use the audio player below: