E4.5M FOR NTSHANGASE, 2 OTHERS

MBABANE – Government will have to facilitate payment of E4.5 million to families of three politicians who recently died of COVID-19-related illnesses.

These are Ambrose Mandvulo Dlamini, the late former Prime Minister, Christian Myekeni Ntshangase, the late Minister of Public Service and Senator Jimmy Hlophe. The Times SUNDAY can reveal that the family of Ntshangase, who was buried yesterday at Mkhwakhweni in the Shiselweni Region, stands to get E1 526 640 as a death benefit provided in Circular No.2 of 2013.

active politics

The package for Senator Hlophe, who returned to active politics in August 2020, amounts to E1 111 632 while the family of the late former prime minister deserves a payout, at minimum, of E1 908 168. Article 4.2 (i) of Circular No.2 of 2013 states that parliamentarians are insured as part of the fund against accidents and death in terms of a contract concluded by government with an insurance company. It is provided in the circular, which spells out the terms and conditions of service for the politicians, that the insured benefits include a group life insurance of two times annual salary.

died in office

For the politician’s family to get the money, the backbencher (MP without ministerial position) or minister must have died in office. At the time of his death, Ntshangase, who died on January 16, 2021, was entitled to a monthly salary of E63 610.65 while Senator Hlophe’s basic salary was E46 318.50. The senator died last Wednesday. The late prime minister, who died on December 13, 2020, was salaried at E79 507.42 per month. Two times annual salary, one of the MPs said is the basic salary calculated by 24 months. This newspaper could not establish if the death benefit is taxed or not, but an insurance broker who works closely with politicians said it was tax-free. “It’s weird to tax a death benefit,” he said, preferring to address the issue on condition of anonymity.

Reads part of the Circular: “Parliamentarians are insured as part of the fund against accidents and death in terms of a contract concluded by Government with an insurance company.”
For purposes of Circular No.2 of 2013, parliamentarians refer to the prime minister, deputy prime minister, presiding officers, ministers, regional administrators, deputy presiding officers, members of Parliament, Tindvuna Tetinkhundla and Bucopho Betinkhundla.

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