Bongiwe Zihlangu
THE government is considering amending legislation governing the payment of benefits for former prime ministers and their deputies to ensure that it is not abused.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s office, Limpho Tau, says the Prime Ministers and Deputy Prime Ministers (Retirement and Spouses’ Benefits) Act 2011, did not put limits to what these former office bearers could claim in lieu of their expenses post retirement.
Minister Tau told the Sunday Express the law had loopholes that created room for inflated claims by former leaders.
As such, the government was contemplating amending the law to impose spending thresholds on its stipulated benefits.
“We must amend the law because currently there are no thresholds in place, meaning there is no regulation,” he explained.
“There must be caps on claims where necessary so that everything is standardized.”
The Act currently provides extensive retirement benefits and perks for the country’s top political leaders. It guarantees the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister a pension equal to 80 percent of their former basic salary upon retirement. It also entitles their spouses to an annual allowance and pension.
Beyond the pensions, the Act grants other generous benefits, including free utilities, transportation, and comprehensive medical care.
But is does not stipulate maximum figures on some of the claims, creating room for abuse, according to Mr Tau. Already, some of the retirees were claiming more than their counterparts.
Former prime ministers Pakalitha Mosisili and his wife, Mathato Mosisili, Thomas Thabane and his wife ‘Maesaea Thabane, Moeketsi Majoro and his spouse, ‘Masekoalana Majoro, as well as former deputy premiers Lesao Lehohla, Mothetjoa Metsing, and Kelebone Maope and their partners are drawing benefits under the law. The benefits extend to staff such as housemaids, gardeners, drivers, and secretaries.
But there are discrepancies in the amounts being claimed by the above retirees with some claiming much more than others in terms of the benefits stipulated under the law.
Mr Tau thus emphasized the need for standardisation. To ensure accountability and consistency across the board.
Mr Tau noted that upon assuming office in late 2022, his government quickly recognized the necessity of addressing the rampant claims submitted by former leaders, which often lacked proper oversight and accountability.
“We found that the law does not place any thresholds on the minimums and maximums for benefits,” he said.
Mr Tau said the government was also worried that many claims for expenses were filed only after the services had been rendered. That was an anomaly as it deprived the government control of the expenditures incurred by the former prime ministers. The government should approve the claims first before the money is expended, he said.
For instance, he said, if a former leader was to attend a medical check-up, advance notification would be required to preapprove their claim.
Mr Tau said the former leaders were also claiming various amounts for utilities like electricity and water. Some claimed an average M800 electricity while others claimed as much as M4000 or more. This made it necessary to impose caps to achieve fairness for all former leaders.
“It is critical to establish standards to ensure that one individual does not excessively burden the budget compared to another,” he said.
“If not properly managed, former leaders could potentially draw more resources than those currently serving the nation,” Mr Tau warned.
Regarding healthcare, Mr Tau confirmed that while the government did not dictate where former leaders should get their medical care, the costs should be reasonable regardless of the source.
While they wait to amend the law, he said the government had already put in place measures to ensure standardisation of claims by former prime ministers and their deputies.
The government was also working on providing uniform medical aid solutions for the country’s former leaders.
It was imperative for the government to take significant steps to reform the benefits system for former leaders, aiming to reduce misuse and ensure fairness, he said.