ActionSA has raised alarm over what it describes as excessive spending by South Africa’s Government of National Unity (GNU), revealing that more than R3.7 billion was spent on VIP and static protection services during the 2024/25 financial year, with costs projected to rise above R4 billion in the coming years.
The Government of National Unity was formed after the 2024 national elections, in which no single party secured an outright majority. It brought together multiple political parties — led by the African National Congress (ANC) and including the Democratic Alliance (DA), Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), Patriotic Alliance (PA) and others — to jointly govern the country under President Cyril Ramaphosa.
In a press statement issued on Wednesday, ActionSA MP Alan Beesley said the spending figures were confirmed by the Minister of Police in a reply to a parliamentary question submitted by the party. According to the reply, R2.29 billion was spent on VIP protection services, while a further R1.42 billion went towards static protection, pushing total expenditure beyond R3.7 billion in a single year.
ActionSA contrasted this figure with the R2.4 billion allocated to the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, commonly known as the Hawks, which is tasked with investigating serious organised crime and corruption. Beesley said the disparity reflected “skewed priorities” within the GNU, favouring executive protection over strengthening law enforcement institutions.
The party further noted that protection-related spending is expected to continue increasing, with projections indicating it could reach R4.06 billion by the 2026/27 financial year.
The latest revelation follows ActionSA’s earlier disclosure that GNU Ministers and Deputy Ministers spent more than R500 million on travel and accommodation during their first 18 months in office. The data, compiled through ActionSA’s GNU Performance Tracker and based on parliamentary replies, showed that several departments spent more on travel than the Presidency itself.
ActionSA also criticised President Ramaphosa’s approval of a 3.8% salary increase for public office-bearers, effective from 1 April 2026. Under the adjustment, the Deputy President’s annual package will rise to about R3.28 million, Cabinet Ministers’ to roughly R2.79 million and Deputy Ministers’ to approximately R2.29 million.
Beesley said the salary increases, approved amid ongoing service delivery challenges and economic pressure on households, further illustrated the GNU’s disconnect from ordinary South Africans.
In response, ActionSA said it has introduced an Enhanced Cut Cabinet Perks Bill aimed at limiting ministerial benefits, as well as a proposed constitutional amendment to abolish all 32 Deputy Minister positions.
While GNU partners have defended coalition governance as necessary for stability, ActionSA insists the growing cost of executive perks undermines public trust and diverts resources from critical crime-fighting and service delivery priorities.
At the time of publication, there was no comment from the GNU.
