By Johnathan Paoli
The North Gauteng High Court has declared the City of Johannesburg’s policy of providing executive members of the metro with bodyguards as unconstitutional and invalid.
The city approved the policy in March last year, allocating over R3 million per month for VIP protection, including an estimated 60 bodyguards and 40 vehicles, for the mayor, speaker and MMCs.
Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa previously set the limit at two bodyguards, only for the mayor, speaker and whips.
Judge Stuart Wilson ruled on Thursday that the metro did not provide sufficient justification for the enhancement of the protection services.
Wilson held that while the policy allowed an increase of the number of bodyguards for the mayor from eight, this was predicated on a threat or risk assessment from the South African Police Service.
“It is common cause that the city council has not obtained a threat assessment
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