Former EFF secretary-general Godrich Gardee has opted to throw in the towel as a MP, slamming his parliament salary and “disgusting” living arrangements.
Gardee resigned from his role as MP on Tuesday after he graduated with a law degree.
TimesLIVE reported that EFF spokesperson Vuyani Pambo confirmed that Gardee handed in his resignation letter on February 28.
Pambo said this was expected, as Gardee was now working full time as a candidate attorney at Mabuza Attorneys — a 9-to-5 job that would interfere with his duties as a parliamentarian.
Pambo said Gardee would remain the EFF's head of international relations.
Taking to social media after the news broke, Gardee opened up about the “disgusting” conditions MPs are forced to live in.
This after a user alleged that MPs cough up “R362 a month for a four-bedroom house at Acacia Park in Cape Town”.
“There is no four-bedroomed house for MPs,” said Gardee.
“Parliament does not supply kettle and toasters. That thing is a hostel, a workplace residence.
“It's by no choice we are there. Parliament will never attract the best of the brains to MPs, hence ANC MPs went for Bosasa subsidy.”
There is no 4 bedroomed house for MPs....Parliament does not supply kettle & toasters....That thing is a hostel, a work place residence....Its by no choice we are there....@ParliamentofRSA will never attract the best of the brains to MPs hence @MYANC MPs went for #Bosassa subsidy https://t.co/b2KKmLdb3l
— Godrich Gardee (@GardeeGodrich) March 10, 2020
There is no kettle or toasters supplied....Those houses are worse off than an RDP house in a village......In fact, no one ever miss that misery of Parliament village....Its no different from a hostel....Mattrasses are never changed to date....Its no by choice to be there....
— Godrich Gardee (@GardeeGodrich) March 10, 2020
According to Gardee, even the salaries for MPs were too low to send their children to university.
He said the salary in parliament was “the most disgusting while working far away from home”.
“The hullabaloo about salaries of MPs is misplaced. MPs cannot even afford (to put their) own children in universities and their children cannot be considered for NSFAS, hence Bosasa paid for their children,” Gardee added.
Most are wooden houses except for few in bricks..You get into a bus to parliament..No wonder Ministers resign once demoted to be a back Bencher..It is not nice at all...Its like a jail..For a pittance salary...No wonder #Bosassa took care of politicians in that @ParliamentofRSA
— Godrich Gardee (@GardeeGodrich) March 10, 2020
That is why you have #Bosassa scandals of all @MYANC MPs in Correctional Service portfolio....
— Godrich Gardee (@GardeeGodrich) March 10, 2020
Gardee said parliament was not an employer of choice and it did not pay a living wage.
“I will share my payslip with you, see the trauma and torture we are made to go through while the public think we are fat cats.
“There is no shower. The bathing basins are those used by [former president FW] De Klerk generation while they were there and never changed to date.”
It is a hostel & not a dwelling-employer provides a hostel & deduct R362 for the hostel which is family unit.Our families, wife & children are not there at all.We have to buy grocery there & at home.Its disgusting to say the least-No wonder old people never leave that place!!!
— Godrich Gardee (@GardeeGodrich) March 10, 2020
Gardee said no-one aspired to serve parliament, because it was made up of old people “with no skill at all and good for nothing”.
“The parliament has become a retirement old people’s village.”
@ParliamentofRSA is not an employer of choice nor does it pay a living wage....I will share my payslip with you & see the trauma & torture we are made to go through....whilst public thinks we are fat cats.....
— Godrich Gardee (@GardeeGodrich) March 10, 2020
No one will ever aspire to serve @ParliamentofRSA hence it is made of old people with no skill at all & good for nothing...& @ParliamentofRSA has become a retirement old peoples village...
— Godrich Gardee (@GardeeGodrich) March 10, 2020
In #EFF were are saved from the expensive suits & clothes for #Sona....hence those of @MYANC wear the least expensive if not much expensive suits & rush to designers for #sona20 red carpet...Those red overalls & boots combined cost lest than R500 & you use them for 5 years..
— Godrich Gardee (@GardeeGodrich) March 10, 2020
Concluding his rant, Gardee said MPs had no benefits or even a car allowance.
There is no free lunch at Parliament....we carry lunch boxes .. or you thought there is food for MPs.....
— Godrich Gardee (@GardeeGodrich) March 10, 2020
But all these are not benefits....benefits are taxed & there is none here...How should we reach Cape Town if the 88 tickets are not made available & you call that a benefit.
— Godrich Gardee (@GardeeGodrich) March 10, 2020
No there is no car allowance....its a total cost package and you can structure it for car...but there is no car allowance...an allowance should be gazetted if any....there is none in this regard....
— Godrich Gardee (@GardeeGodrich) March 10, 2020
There is no contribution to car by parliament, all people have deductible expenses depending on the nature of employment & you too have....PARMED is very expensive...it is compulsory & we had own schemes before we went there....its not like we never had cars & MedAid before Parly
— Godrich Gardee (@GardeeGodrich) March 10, 2020
An expensive compulsory medical Aid & once you put wife & children-it goes up to R18 000 a month directly from your salary ...... imagine such sickness of @MYANC majority paying such amount to #parmed @AndiMakinana I earned better than @ParliamentofRSA before I went in there...
— Godrich Gardee (@GardeeGodrich) March 10, 2020
