07 Aug 2013

Parliament has adopted the Ministers and National Assembly Gratuities and Pensions (Amendment) Bill.

Presenting the bill on Tuesday, the Minister for Presidential Affairs and Public Administration, Mr Mokgweetsi Masisi said it sought to amend section five of the Ministers and National Assembly Pensions Act to include in the calculation of gratuities of members, both the current basic salary and the period served as a minister.

Minister Masisi said  the section did not distinguish between the tenure of the Vice President, Ministers, Assistant Ministers, the Speaker and Deputy Speaker and that of ordinary Members of Parliament.

He said this created unfairness brought by calculation of gratuity of MPs using only the current monthly basic salary, while excluding the period a member served in Cabinet during his or her tenure of office, but was no longer a minister at the end of their parliamentary term. This, he said, resulted not only in under payment but could also lead to over payment in a case where a minister held the post for a short term before general elections.

Minister Masisi therefore said the section was being amended as it was silent on tenure of office of Cabinet members who continue to discharge their duties after the dissolution of Parliament right up to the date of the appointment of a new Cabinet. ENDS