Durban - The eThekwini Municipality spends more than R36 million a year on private bodyguards to protect 22 councillors it deems “high risk”.
The councillors – 19 from the ANC, two from the NFP and one from the IFP – are provided with 24-hour protection at a cost of R208 666 per councillor a month.
The figures are contained in a report tabled at the city’s executive committee meeting on Tuesday. It was requested by mayor James Nxumalo. This was to compare the cost of paying for private bodyguards with the municipality establishing its own VIP bodyguard unit.
The matter was deferred after city manager S’bu Sithole said there were “outstanding issues” in the report that he needed to clarify.
The report detailed for the first time the true cost of protecting councillors, some of whom have fled their constituencies and are being housed in council-owned flats across the city.
Some of the councillors, according to municipal sources, receive protection because of threats from colleagues.
The report reveals that the 22 councillors are given protection by Shark Protection Services, which provides 45 bodyguards and 24 SUV vehicles in the course of their work.
This is in addition to 23 drivers and one “reaction unit”, which has three bodyguards, one SUV vehicle and one driver.
The total annual cost of the service is R36 749 307.
If the city had to establish an internal VIP unit, the annual cost is estimated at R31 799 760 – a saving of R4.9m, the report said.
This is based on the city employing 48 bodyguards compared with the 72 currently contracted who protect the councillors.
However, the city’s capital outlay to establish the internal unit would cost R10.5m which would include the purchase of 23 SUV vehicles, two Toyota Etios vehicles and 96 guns.
If the city chose to ditch the SUVs in favour of VW Jettas, the capital outlay shrinks to R7.3m.
The report notes that cost of council staff is higher than the private sector mainly because of the higher staff benefits and remuneration.
It said there was greater flexibility in having an outsourced service as the council could increase or decrease the number of bodyguards at short notice.
“Outsourced security staff are governed by different regulations and work a 60-hour week as compared with the council staff of a 40-hour week,” the report said.
Mdu Nkosi, IFP executive committee member, said it was important for councillors whose lives had been threatened to be protected because it would reflect badly on the city if a councillor were killed while at work.
He said the IFP would call for the city to establish an in-house VIP protection service.
“These private companies get a lot of money to provide protection services to the city and are paying their workers poorly. It will be better if these guards are absorbed into working for the city because that will mean that they will get better benefits and their lives will improve,” Nkosi said.
DA caucus leader Zwakele Mncwango said they felt vindicated by the report as the party has been calling for the city to establish an internal VIP unit.
“This report is a result of the mayor showing leadership and listening to us. We have been wanting the city manager to give us a comparison for some time now. Finally, it shows what we have been saying all along and that is having an in-house VIP will save the city money.
“These bodyguards will also be paid more and will get benefits if we move them in-house.”
Patrick Pillay, the caucus leader for the MF, said the city should go with setting up an internal VIP unit.
“The cost for hiring bodyguards is exorbitant. However, a R4m-plus saving for the ratepayer is surely the way to go.”
Daily News