“Zot - pa zis touy dimoun ki krim!”
Dear Sir,
I hope my letter reaches you in good time to make the next issue of your paper. I would like to congratulate you for reminding the government of the promise of a salary review for government workers.
It indeed looks like they have been forgotten by government and opposition alike. Right now, a government worker and a private sector worker is entitled to only a day's wage in gratuity. This works out at 12 days pay per year worked. So supposing the employee is earning R4, 000 pm, this will come to less than 1,500 a year. By comparison, constitutional appointees, such as for Ministers and MNAs, this is multiplied by over 50 times.
An MNA, in addition to his or her R 13,700 a month- with recess or holiday every three months, pockets R80, 000 every December.
For the Leader of Opposition, Leader of Government Business, Ministers, this is R 240,000 every Christmas.
I met an old university-qualified school-master who after 31 years service and teaching our fatly-paid politicians, is getting just R1, 700 pm in pension. A very qualified nurse, who had about the same length of service, had to stop work for health reasons, pulls in a paltry R700 pm. In both cases, their electricity bills come to over half of their pensions. I wonder what kind of food they feed on?
That is one area, which has been largely overlooked by one and all - our veteran professionals. They sweated blood to build this country and today blood-sucking politicians are reaping the benefits whilst they lumber in total and absolute poverty. “Zot, pa zis touy dimoun ki krim!” Have heart politicians for goodness sake.
An Ex-civil servant