![Ramokgopa And His Subordinates Costing Tax Payers About R13m A Year-SurgeZirc SA](https://surgezirc.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Ramakgopa.png)
The salaries of electricity minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa and his staff cost taxpayers approximately R13 million per year.
This was revealed this week by the Department of Electricity in response to parliamentary written questions from the DA.
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“What is the total number of staff employed and/or provided as departmental support in his private office, remuneration of each position to date and his own remuneration to date since he was officially appointed as minister in the Presidency for electricity,” asked the DA.
According to the department’s statement, Ramokgopa’s office has 12 employees and the minister earns more than R2.4 million per year.
Two special advisers, Sarel Jacobs de la Rouviere and Silas Mzingeli Zimu, each cost R2,158,533, with Elizabeth Selaelo Mosebedi, the team’s lowest-paid member, getting R125,373 for food services.
Ramokgopa’s appointment was announced on March 6, according to DA MP Samantha Graham-Mare, but his powers were not confirmed in a government gazette until May 26.
“During those three months, Ramokgopa admitted himself that he was nothing more than a project manager, reporting to other ministers. Despite this, he received the full perks of a minister, earning an exorbitant salary of R178,311 per month,” said Graham-Mare.
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“In these three months of inactivity, Ramokgopa and his staffers cost hard-working South Africans more than R3m, with nothing to show for it except expensive sightseeing trips and luxury clothing.
“This is a classic example of cadre deployment at its worst, where individuals are appointed to positions of power without the necessary accountability and outside existing structures.”
Graham-Mare said load-shedding continues to plague the country, wreaking havoc on the economy and the lives of ordinary South Africans.
“Despite being in office, minister Ramokgopa has made no significant impact in developing viable solutions to end load-shedding, both now and in the future.”