Joburg security gets a trim

SAFETY: HIGH COURT DECLARES EXTRA BODYGUARDS POLICY FOR COUNCIL OFFICIALS INVALID

- Itumeleng Mafisa

• City also ordered to pay the DA's legal costs in the matter.

Political office bearers in the city of Joburg are set to lose a significant portion of their security detail, while the DA says the city's residents will have to pay for the costly legal debacle.

The High Court in Johannesburg on Thursday ruled that the mayor, chief whip and speaker of the council can legally only be afforded two bodyguards each.

It comes after the city passed a new law last year that saw the mayor receive 10 bodyguards and the speaker eight, without evidence of a risk assessment.

Some MMCs, such as the MMC of finance Margaret Arnolds, received five bodyguards, while MMC of transport Kenny Kunene received four.

There were instances where some of the city's senior administrators also had bodyguards.

According to the court, this policy is invalid and unconstitutional and it has now been set aside.