South Africa’s ‘blue light’ bill shock

South African taxpayers have shouldered a staggering financial burden for VIP protection services provided to government officials over the past five years.
Recent revelations from a parliamentary Q&A session shed light on the immense costs associated with safeguarding the country’s executive members, amounting to a total of R1.314 billion.
This figure excludes the salaries and benefits of those tasked with delivering these services, further highlighting the extent of the expenditure.
VIP protection in South Africa consists of two components: in-transit protection and static protection.
In-transit protection involves safeguarding officials while they are on the move, such as during travel in motorcades, while static protection focuses on providing security at fixed locations, like official residences or offices.
The financial breakdown over the past five years reveals a year-on-year escalation, with the 2022/23 financial year standing out as the most expensive.
During this period, R250.98 million was spent on in-transit protection, accompanied by an additional R90.67 million for static protection.
Combined, this marked a peak expenditure of over R341 million in a single year.
Although the following year saw a reduction in costs, the overall trend underscores the significant and sustained financial commitment required to maintain these services.
Critics argue that the allocation of such substantial resources to VIP protection is disproportionate in a country grappling with widespread poverty, unemployment, and crime.
These criticisms have been compounded by high-profile incidents involving VIP protection units, such as the 2023 attack on motorists by members of Deputy President Paul Mashatile’s security detail.
The incident, which was widely condemned, raised serious questions about the conduct and accountability of those entrusted with these critical responsibilities.
The debate surrounding VIP protection costs highlights a broader tension between ensuring the safety of government officials and addressing the pressing challenges faced by millions of South Africans.
In addition to the direct costs of protection services, the South African Police Service (SAPS) has also incurred significant fuel expenses.
Over the past six years, SAPS has spent over R42 million on petrol and diesel for its VIP protection operations, averaging more than R583,000 per month.
This expense further amplifies concerns about the overall financial impact of these services on the national budget.
Between March 2023 and March 2024, the SAPS spent an additional R8 million on petrol and diesel, with Gauteng’s VIP unit spending the lion’s share of R2.2 million.
This is unsurprising, given that the government union buildings are in Pretoria, while the houses of parliament are in the Western Cape.
Interestingly, over the same period, Mpumalanga was the second biggest spender of public funds, with its VIP vehicles spending over R1.1 million for the year.
“While South Africans are suffering from crushing cost of living, including higher fuel prices, VIP cadres take the taxpayers for a ride without having to put their hands in their pockets,” said the official opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) MP Andrew Whitfield
Financial year | In-transit protection | Static protection | Total |
---|---|---|---|
2020/21 | R168 764 564 | R17 313 958 | R186 078 522 |
2021/22 | R237 358 012 | R22 164 695 | R259 522 707 |
2022/23 | R250 981 442 | R90 673 284 | R341 654 726 |
2023/24 | R221 349 041 | R50 012 246 | R271 361 287 |
2024/25 | R215 581 228 | R40 303 757 | R255 884 985 |
Total | R1 094 million | R220.5 million | R1 314 million |