The main opposition party in South Africa has asked the anti-corruption watchdog to look into what it claims are inflated contracts for ministers’ lavish homes.
This comes after the ANC government revealed that it spent nearly $5 million (£4 million) between 2019 and 2022 maintaining dozens of properties occupied by public servants.
The scandal piles pressure on President Cyril Ramaphosa, who was elected on promises to fight corruption after his predecessor Jacob Zuma’s tenure was marred by political and financial scandals.
The opposition Democratic Alliance says that “at least we can finally answer the question of how much money it takes for ANC cadres to replace a lightbulb.”
Alleging blatant corruption, it claims that the bill for bulbs at one ministerial mansion in Pretoria was nearly $1,000.
Then there was the $70,000 kitchen renovation and the $2.5 million spent on generators in ministers’ homes – all while most South Africans were experiencing the country’s worst power outages.
It is already the world’s most unequal country. Corruption may be widening the gap between the “haves” and the “have-nots.”
