Members of the KwaZulu-Natal legislature who are being chauffeur-driven want a proposed policy to include recognition of a traditional healer's diagnosis as a valid "medical" justification for being unable to drive themselves.
DA member of the legislature Radley Keys said yesterday that some of the 22 chauffeur-driven politicians had presented this demand to the legislature's rules committee recently.
The proposed policy would regulate which members of the provincial parliament are allocated drivers at the cost of taxpayers.
''The DA considers the demands of these members to be a blatant delaying tactic aimed at blocking the removal of privileges obtained through the back door.
''The continuing abuse of the driver allocation rules is the reason for the review and for the need to tighten control measures.
''But it appears that some members, who might not qualify for drivers, are unwilling to relinquish this privilege,'' said Keys.
The ANC deputy chief whip in the legislature, Senzo Mkhize, said the matter had been referred back to party caucuses for further discussion because some members felt that the exclusion should not only depend on the diagnosis of a medical doctor.
In April it was revealed that the province spent about R264000 a month on contract drivers.
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