The Public Servants Association (PSA) welcomed the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) judgment ordering former social development minister Bathabile Dlamini to pay back more than R2 million to the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa).
Sassa approved the unauthorised personal security expenses in 2013 that were meant for Dlamini. The money was also paid to her then spokesperson, Lumka Oliphant, and their children.
The agency paid a total of R3,499,606, of which R2,008,086 was for the protection services for Dlamini’s children and R1,491,520 for Oliphant and her children.
Dlamini and Oliphant claimed they were threatened after the Social Security Administration stopped paying in 2012.
Following this, Dlamini's residence was broken into in 2013, and her computer was stolen.
But Dlamini said she did not owe Sassa anything.
Last year, the High Court in Pretoria reached a decision holding Dlamini, Oliphant, and Virginia Petersen, the former CEO of Sassa, accountable for repaying government funds.
In a statement, PSA said the judgment should send a strong warning to politicians to remind them that no one was above the law.
"Politicians often abuse their power by placing employees under enormous pressure by issuing unlawful instructions contrary to the prevailing legislative framework," it said.
"Senior managers and heads of governmental institutions are often coerced by political leaders to act against legal prescripts to satisfy their personal and selfish agendas."
The PSA further advised political leaders to stop abusing employees and the system to unduly benefit at the expense of organisations and South Africa.
"Ministers enjoy protection from the South African Police Service VIP protection service hence it defies logic to procure a private security company," it said.
"If there were dangers and threats, the same should have been reported to the SAPS for their assessment and advice rather than wasting state coffers with the hiring of private security."
IOL Politics