Former EFF general secretary Godrich Gardee has criticised the ‘exorbitant’ state medical aid scheme MPs are forced to join.
Image: Sebabatso Mosamo/Sunday Times
Former EFF MP and now full-time candidate attorney Godrich Gardee on Thursday opened up about challenges faced by SA’s MPs, particularly on salaries and mandatory “expensive” medical aid.

Gardee said MPs, including judges, are required to join the state medical aid even if they’re already covered by other schemes. He said he would rather take land, farm livestock and medicinal cannabis than fork out the exorbitant monthly contribution.to the National Assembly’s sub-committee opposing the state medical aid, Parmed, and calling for the amendment of the Parmed Act on the grounds that it was unaffordable and infringed their constitutional rights to associate with a medical aid scheme of their choice.

The committee was tasked with investigating the parliamentary and provincial medical aid scheme act which makes it compulsory for members of the National Assembly to be under Parmed.

Gardee lamented the lack of support from members of the opposition parties.