Lungani Zungu
Jacob Zuma’s bodyguards have been parked outside Estcourt prison – where Zuma is serving his 15-month jail sentence – since the former president was arrested on 8 July.
The bodyguards are getting full pay for doing nothing while Zuma is in prison.
It is unclear who ordered the former president’s security detail, which falls under the SAPS, to camp outside the prison.
Zuma’s arrest has sparked a heated debate on whether presidential perks should be revoked for convicted presidents.
A former bodyguard, now a businessman, told Scrolla.Africa that Zuma’s guards will earn their full salaries.
“Whether they do any work or not, they are still entitled to their full salaries because to them parking outside the prison is part of their job.”
The former protector said the instruction for Zuma’s bodyguards to be outside Estcourt might have come from the SAPS.
“Ultimately, they are employed by SAPS, so I think the instruction may have come from them.”
After idling for two weeks since Zuma’s arrest, his bodyguards sprang into action for the first time on Thursday when Zuma was released to attend his brother Michael’s funeral in Nkandla.
His convoy of four cars was seen leaving the prison to his Nkandla homestead, where his brother was buried.
Despite his conviction, the Constitution allows the former president to enjoy presidential benefits, including security and pension amounting to more than R3 million annually.
The South African Constitution had no guidance on what happens in the current circumstances, presumably because the lawmakers never foresaw that a former president might end up in jail.
A president can only lose presidential benefits if impeached through a parliamentary process.
None of Zuma’s aides wanted to comment on the matter.
Police spokesperson Major-General Mathapelo Peters did not respond to questions sent to her.
Image source: @SibsMacd
