CAPE TOWN - The staff of former Minister of Public Enterprise, Lynne Brown’s public office earned inflated salaries of up to R1.29 million.
This was revealed in a written response to a parliamentary question posed by DA MP Gregory Krumbock to Brown.
Krumbock questioned the funds that were budgeted for Brown’s private office, including their salaries and the qualification which they hold, reports Fin24.
Parliamentary and cabinet support officer
According to the response, an individual with a matric qualification could reportedly earn up to R950 000, employed as a senior parliamentary and cabinet support officer.
In addition, the same position at level 12 (work level) could earn more than R917 000.
Receptionist
Meanwhile, Brown's receptionists who are employed at salary level 7 and in possession of a matric qualification could earn more than R230 000.
Messenger
A messenger/driver with a matric qualification (senior certificate) and a level 6 salary earned R189 000 while a messenger with a grade 7 qualification on the same salary level earned more than R260 000.
Brown’s chief of staff who had a B-Tech qualification in Public Management earned more than R1.21 million and her special adviser with a diploma in Public Management earned R1.29 million.
Brown's director of administration, who has a bachelor’s degree in administration earned more than R675 000.
Despite these inflated salaries, from 2015 until 2018, Brown’s office expenditure remained within budget.
Brown in March this year resigned as an ANC MP after she was not retained by President Cyril Ramaphosa in his Cabinet.
Brown was one of 10 ministers, linked to the Guptas, who were axed in the Cabinet reshuffle by Ramaphosa.
ANC caucus spokesperson Nonceba Mhlauli said Brown had thanked the party for giving her the opportunity to serve in government.
“Comrade Brown joined the National Assembly in 2014 and previously served as a member of the Western Cape provincial legislature in various capacities from 1994 until 2014,” said Mhlauli.
“She had expressed her gratitude in having served the people of South Africa and thanked the ANC for having given her the opportunity to do so,” Mhlauli said in March.
“We are confident that she will continue serving the country and our movement in other capacities in future. We wish her well.”
Brown was also one of former president Zuma's ministers who was linked to "state capture".