Barry Streek
President Thabo Mbeki’s office will cost R70,6-million this year, nearly R45- million more than the annual cost of the office under former president Nelson Mandela.
But there is a substantial difference: the new Office of the Presidency incorporates the old deputy president’s office as well as the old Office of the President. They had budgets of R25,8- and R24,07-million respectively – a total of R49,9-million.
In addition, R7,7-million has been rolled over from the previous financial year, including a Swedish government donation of about R2,5-million, a R1,17-million donation from the Netherlands government and a R2,59-million donation from the Danish and Netherlands governments for the Office of the Status of Women.
A further R13-million was voted by the National Assembly last Friday in the adjustment estimates to cover costs of administration.
The adjustment estimates also provide R550 000 for air travel and R700 000 for travel and subsistence costs, R560 000 for cars for the Minister in the Office of the President, Essop Pahad.
Professional and special services for the Deputy President, Jacob Zuma, receive an extra amount of R900 000.
In the 1999/2000 financial year, advisers and research specialist costs will amount to R4,1-million.
A research specialist service for Mandela will cost R1,8-million this year.
The National Youth Commission will receive a total of R8,6-million.
The policy co-ordination component of the presidency will get R5,9-million this year, the Office of the Status of Women R2,7-million, the Office on the Status of Disabled Persons R3,3-million, and the child rights component will cost R667 000.