Jacob Zuma's inauguration is set to cost R75-million. Is this excessive? Hadlee Simons, who thinks not, takes on a self-righteous Rebekah Kendal...

Hadlee Simons reckons that getting a new president is a big deal and, compared to Barack Obama's, Zuma's inauguration is hardly extravagant.

$170-million. That's how much the USA spent on Barack Obama's inauguration. That's R1.5-billion to us. The event cost $5 for every American. So what's the big deal about R75-million?

President Zuma's inauguration would only cost every South African R1.50 and, with former president Thabo Mbeki's 2004 inauguration costing around the same, no one can claim that Zuma is being extravagant. Is spending this much on an inauguration a waste of money? Probably; but it's not excessive.

Before you claim that it is still an obscene amount of money to spend on a simple event, imagine all the food that is needed, all the people who will need transport, all the musicians that need to be paid (honour be damned), all the electrical equipment that needs to be hired and transported, all the portable toilets and don't forget the millions of serviettes needed, among other things. So, before you claim that a tea party will do just fine for the inauguration, remember all the planning and money needed for your big birthday bash.

While despots like Robert Mugabe strangle the economy and then proceed to violate it by spending millions on a ceremony, at least we can say that Jacob Zuma and the ANC know that the money could be put to better use (no, not lining their own pockets). But that doesn't mean we can't celebrate.

After having had just over 15 years of democracy, no one can fault us if we would like to celebrate something that we have fought and died for — something that is still fresh in the minds of many people. You have to ask yourself what the USA is celebrating when they stage an elaborate ceremony. They may say 'change', but to many Americans, change is merely something you receive after purchasing a Big Mac.

Rebekah Kendal is offended by the government's lack of self-restraint…

I'm pretty frugal. I blow most of my cash on the boring stuff — you know: rent, pension, insurance, health, investments and groceries. If I have a little left over at the end of the month, I may splurge on a dinner party or a new pair of shoes.

I know, I know, not very exciting. But hey, times are tough.

Very tough, in fact. South Africa faces a recession; food prices have increased by roughly 5.5 percent over the past four months; HIV/Aids continues to tear families apart; and an embarrassingly large percentage of South Africans still do not have houses.

So why — with the rent unpaid and few provisions made for health, insurance, investments and groceries — does our pro-poor government think that it is okay to splash out R75-million on a party for the new president?

One of the joys of our democracy is that we have an inauguration (at least) once every five years. Assuming that President Motlanthe was given the same treatment (if not, my argument regarding the excess of this particular inauguration needs little more), taxpayers have dished out R150-million in less than a year on puffing up the egos of ridiculously well-earning public 'servants'.

Yes, presidents should be afforded some pomp and ceremony at their inaugurations. It befits their role and stature in society. But there is no need to invite the heads of state from 100 other countries. Even Barack Obama — arguably the most important president in the world — only invited the heads of diplomatic missions to the US to his inauguration. There is also no need to spend the equivalent of what it would cost to build 1500 RDP houses or to provide 205 480 families with a loaf of bread every day for a year.

The fact that equally lavish amounts may have been spent on other presidents is hardly justification for continued squandering and immoderation. For a man and party claiming to be of and for the people, this excess is unjustifiable and inexcusable.

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