The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) has strongly criticised the government’s decision to increase the spending limit for ministerial vehicles from R800,000 to R1.1 million, calling on President Cyril Ramaphosa to urgently intervene and reverse the move.
In a pointed critique, the federation described the decision as “ill-considered” and highlighted the stark contrast with the hardships faced by ordinary South Africans battling a cost-of-living crisis. COSATU Parliamentary Coordinator Matthew Parks said it was “impossible to defend” the increase, arguing that no justification could make it acceptable.
Parks pointed out that the same government last year attempted to raise VAT by 2% due to a claimed lack of funds, while also securing a de facto tax increase by not adjusting income tax brackets for the second consecutive year. He contrasted this with severe strains on public services: nurses working double or triple shifts due to staff shortages, doctors labouring 48-hour shifts, a roughly 15% decline in police headcount (about 20,000 officers) despite rising crime and population growth, and a 60% vacancy rate at Home Affairs.
“The government says it cannot fund public services, yet on the other hand it finds money to increase by nearly 40% the car allowance for ministers, premiers, deputy ministers, MECs and others,” Parks said. While acknowledging that the additional cost — estimated at around R30 million a year — might appear small in a R2.5 trillion budget, he stressed that the symbolic message it sends is “fundamentally wrong.”
“It sends a message of a Treasury and politicians who are so self-introspective that they have no time to think about the issues society faces,” he added. Parks argued that society, as taxpayers, workers, consumers and businesses, has every right to be irritated by such decisions.
The increase was quietly implemented and only came to light last week through a parliamentary question to the Minister of Finance. Parks described it as part of a deeper “culture of entitlement” among politicians despite widespread hardship.
He urged the President to reverse the limit back to R800,000 and proposed a longer-term solution: assigning vehicle procurement to the government garage with standardised, locally manufactured, more modest specifications to end the annual “soap opera.”
Parks dismissed Treasury’s argument that R800,000 could no longer buy a sufficiently safe and reliable vehicle as “completely disingenuous.” He noted that R800,000 is already very generous, citing the example of a locally manufactured Toyota Fortuner as a safe, reliable and comfortable option. “We’re not sure to what extent taxpayers should be funding luxuries for politicians,” he said.
He further contrasted the vehicle limit adjustment with the government’s reluctance to properly adjust the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant of R370, which supports eight million of the country’s most destitute unemployed citizens. The grant has seen only one inflation adjustment since 2020, despite repeated pleas.
Additional examples of misplaced priorities included the budget allocating R3 billion for small business development while setting aside R4.5 million for politicians’ bodyguards (covering around 230 politicians).
Parks called for a comprehensive review of the Ministerial Handbook, which he said has fostered a “bling expenditure” culture over the past 15 years. While accepting the need for some support — such as ministerial accommodation for those not based in Cape Town or Pretoria, and basic vehicles for work — he argued for far greater modesty.
He questioned the size of the executive, suggesting South Africa could manage with around 20 ministers and five deputy ministers instead of the current 32 ministers and 43 deputy ministers. In local government, he proposed reducing the nearly 10,000 councillors to free up resources for frontline public servants like teachers, nurses, police officers and doctors.
Parks rejected security-based justifications for luxury vehicles, calling them “spurious.” He noted that ministers already receive bodyguards and emphasised that R800,000 (or even R500,000–R600,000) could still secure a very safe luxury vehicle. “Politicians are not special people. They should not be treated like princesses,” he said.
He stressed that true safety requires strengthening the broader police service — which faces shortages of detectives, visible policing, working vehicles, modern IT systems, and skilled personnel including forensics — rather than isolating politicians in protected bubbles while working-class communities endure high levels of violent crime.
Regarding COSATU’s alliance with the ANC and the South African Communist Party, Parks said the federation would continue raising these concerns publicly and privately, regardless of the approaching 2026 local government elections. He clarified that decisions on electoral support would be taken at COSATU’s Congress in September based on mandates from members. The federation expects better governance from all parties, including those in the Government of National Unity such as the DA, EFF, FF Plus and IFP, many of whom are in cabinet or supported the budget.
Parks warned that such “own goals” irritate society and risk further alienating voters, contributing to low turnout and declining public support. He called on the government to demonstrate humility, modesty and frugality with taxpayers’ money, emphasising that workers cannot be expected to tighten their belts while politicians enlarge theirs.
The federation plans to write directly to President Ramaphosa urging him to reverse the decision and lead by example.