Opposition party, the Democratic Alliance (DA) on Wednesday introduced a Private Member’s Bill designed to stop what it calls President Cyril Ramaphosa's “dictatorial powers over the Ministerial Handbook”.

DA Shadow Minister for Public Service and Administration Dr Leon Schreiber argues that, currently, there appears to be no legal framework to govern the Ministerial Handbook, which was recently thrown into controversy.

Schreiber says the lack of legal framework allowed Ramaphosa to expand the size of ministerial offices and exempt Ministers and Deputy Ministers from paying for water and electricity in April this year.

“…but it is also why he did so in secret with no requirement to even inform Parliament about these changes,” Schreiber added.

The DA explained that its Bill would introduce a new section – 4A – into the existing Remuneration of Public Office Bearers Act, No 20 of 1998, which would force the President to first obtain properly considered and costed recommendations from the Independent Commission for the Remuneration of Public Office-bearers before introducing benefits or allowances for Ministers and Deputy Ministers outside of their annual remuneration packages.

“The Bill would also subject these perks to considerations of affordability and require the President to take into account which benefits may be reasonable given the prevailing economic situation in the country. Furthermore, the DA’s Cut Cabinet Perks Bill would require the President to report any changes to the Handbook to the National Assembly within 30 days, along with his reasons for approving the perks and what they would cost,” Schreiber said.

He added that as with all other presidential actions that cost taxpayers money, decisions about additional benefits must be made in a rational and transparent manner.