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GIVE DPM E1 MILLION -CIRCULAR NO. 2

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MBABANE –  It almost guaranteed now!  It looks as though Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Themba Masuku is poised to gain a bumper allowance if government doesn’t rehabilitate his official residence at Waterford Park in Mbabane.


If Finance Circular No.2 of 2013 were to be adhered to, government is expected to have, at least, paid E208 433.16 to the deputy prime minister for housing allowances spanning a period of 12 months. In February 2019, the Times SUNDAY reported that a non-civil servant, Robert Artwell, was using a spacious four-bedroom house government bought for the usage of the country’s DPM.
When Masuku reassumed his position as the DPM in November last year, circumstances forced him to convert his private home into an official residence. That meant, therefore, government would pay him an allowance of E17 369.43 per month, which is 25 per cent of his basic salary of E69 477.75. 


The housing allowance is based on Article 4.6.1 of Finance Circular No.2 of 2013. For using his house, the DPM is expected to get E208 433.16 per annum, translating to E1 042 165 in five years. The term of office for politicians is five years. When the Times SUNDAY visited Waterford Park, nothing had changed as Artwell was still reportedly staying there. Initially, he paid E13 000 in rentals. 
In the previous interview with Atwell, a retired employee of Waterford Kamhlaba, he had confirmed that he was a tenant paying rent to government. Artwell had also confirmed that the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development leased out the house to him two years ago.


He said he found it in a bad condition, and had to renovate it. Artwell mentioned that he spent E180 000 from his personal pocket to finance the rehabilitation of the house, which has two servants’ quarters, and a guardhouse.
In an interview on Friday, Makhosini Mndawe, the Principal Secretary in the DPM’s Office, said he had not heard or received any correspondence or note reflecting Masuku’s desire to relocate to the official residence. “It’s difficult for me to talk on behalf of the DPM. I can only advise you to talk to him,” he said.

Yes it’s allowed - PS


Khangeziwe Mabuza, the Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, referred enquiries about accommodation to the Ministry of Public Service. She, however, hinted that any officer or high ranking politician holding the status of DPM was eligible for an allowance if he converted his private home into an official residence.
Mabuza’s ministry is responsible for the rehabilitation of government houses while the Public Service Ministry’s mandate is to allocate.


Sipho Tsabedze, the Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Public Service, said he would have to get details on the matter as he was not aware that there was a government house allocated to the DPM, which was being utilised by a private person. He said he would enquire from the DPM’s office if Masuku wanted accommodation or was content with his home being turned into an official residence.


Masuku could not be reached for comment as his phone’s ringtone suggested that he could be out of the country. He had not responded to a message texted to him.
Impeccable sources said there was nothing the deputy prime minister could do on his own to have his official residence available.


He said it was the duty of the three ministries, public service, DPM’s office and public works and transport, to ensure that the house at Waterford Park was rehabilitate to meet the standard or class of the deputy prime minister. “Ideally, government shall allocate a house to the DPM but if there’s no accommodation, he can use his private home and get an allowance of 25 per cent of his basic salary,” said the source.
When he was told that the allowance would run into a million Emalangeni in five years, he said he was aware the allowance was high but that was the only option available for both the DPM and government.

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