ActionSA Praises Court Decision to Stop Joburg’s VIP Protection Policy, Slams DA
Johannesburg – ActionSA has expressed its approval of the high court’s ruling that deemed the City of Johannesburg’s VIP Protection policy “unconstitutional and invalid”.
ActionSA stated: “This judgment, which recognized the policy as unlawful, reinforces our stance on this issue, contrary to the baseless remarks made by the oblivious DA caucus leader.”
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ActionSA has consistently opposed the VIP Protection Policy, even voting against it during the council meetings.
“There already exists a provision allowing public representatives to seek necessary protection if they face threats,” ActionSA commented on Friday, (3 January 2025).
“We believe this provision is adequate. Our position is that the resources allocated for VIP protection should be redirected towards service delivery efforts.”
“Nonetheless, we were informed that the personnel would be sourced from the JMPD [Johannesburg Metro Police Department] pool.”
ActionSA pointed out that the security detail for Cllr Nobuhle Mthembu, the City of Johannesburg Council Speaker, did not align with the claims made in the VIP Protection Policy.
ActionSA added: “Cllr Mthembu does not have the privilege of an entourage and numerous bodyguards.”
“We believe that public representatives must remain accessible to the very communities that elected them, instead of fostering a divide.”
“Unlike on 20th March 2024, when the Council approved this unconstitutional policy, ActionSA now holds seats in the Legislature, and we will leverage our positions to ensure the policy adheres to the Act and ministerial determinations.”
“We will also guarantee that any decision to augment a particular municipal councillor’s personal protection allowance complies with the Act and ministerial directives, as the court has instructed.”
ActionSA urged the DA to “stop their misleading narratives and propaganda” against them and to join forces with Council Speaker Mthembu in her efforts to amend past missteps.
