ActionSA files complaint with PP against DA over senior members' salary top-ups

ActionSA has lodged a complaint with the Public Protector against Democratic Alliance (DA) members who receive additional salary top-ups alongside their government pay.

A leaked DA report has revealed that some party leaders benefit from monthly top-ups despite already earning salaries as public representatives.

They include outgoing leader John Steenhuisen, Deputy Finance Minister Ashor Sarupen, and Tshwane mayoral candidate Cilliers Brink.

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ActionSA spokesperson Lerato Ngobeni argues that it is unconstitutional for Cabinet members to receive extra payments on top of their State salaries.

“Section 96 of the Constitution makes it unambiguously clear that members of the executive may not undertake any other paid work. Yet a leaked internal report suggests that both the Minister of Agriculture, John Steenhuisen, and the Deputy Minister of Finance, Ashor Sarupen, may have received regular, structured payments linked to roles performed within their political party.”

She said the Public Protector must probe the salary top-ups.

“Interestingly, these substantial top-up payments were also not declared as additional work or remuneration in the Register of Members’ Interests, which raises a host of further concerns and necessitated that we also file a complaint with Parliament’s Ethics Committee.”