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Chief Whips’ Forum agrees to giving housing allowances to MPs living in Parliamentary villages

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African National Congress (ANC) Chief Whip in Parliament Pemmy Majodina has confirmed that the Chief Whips’ Forum has agreed to make the introduced housing allowances part of the benefits that Members of Parliament (MPs) living in the Parliamentary villages receive.

Cape Town consists of three Parliamentary villages which are responsible for the accommodation of lawmakers. However, Majodina says after further looking into the matter, the decision was rejected because the packages of the public representatives do not fall under the brackets of those who qualify for housing allowances.

“The matter was discussed, yes indeed, at the Chief Whips’ Forum. The view of the Chief Whips Forum was that – let members of Parliament get housing allowances so that we are not a burden to public works. We can rent our own houses or we can buy our own houses. After investigation, it became clear that the matter of housing allowance is not part of our package and our packages are not discussed by ourselves. It gets discussed by the commission on remuneration of all public representatives and therefore we were defeated because we wanted to save government,  to save parliament, save public works so that we can take care of ourselves,” says Majodina.

ANC denies MPs work from private residences

The ANC in Parliament has refuted allegations that some MPs are working from their private residences instead of the Parliamentary villages allocated to them during the COVID-19 pandemic. Majodina says party members are working on a rotational basis.

“Other members have their relatives and families who also in those houses-so I cannot really respond and say members are working from home and therefore houses are not occupied. At times we call members to come in their numbers. Where are they going to stay? I think that question is very much unfair,” says Majodina.

UDM supports proposal

United Democratic Alliance (UDM) Chief Whip Nqabayomzi Nkwankwa says his party supports the proposal for MPs to receive housing allowances as part of their benefits. Nkwankwa says the requirement which is long overdue would enable MPs to own their own properties after the expiry of their five-term of serving in Parliament.

He’s also lashed out at those responsible for the maintenance of the buildings saying the accommodation of cabinent ministers is better maintained.

“The key issue which we have always proposed is that a solution which will save money,  the state hundreds of millions of rands per anum, will be one that gives housing allowances to MPs so that they ceased to be a burden in the state and public works when it comes to their accommodation requirements in Cape Town and travelling arrangements. If Parliament or the state were to give housing allowances to MPs – it would save the state the amount that they were to spend per anum in maintaining the houses, the very old and depilating houses that are usually described as prestige,” says Nkwankwa.

 

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