The Western Cape is to tighten controls over the spending of its top politicians by producing its own ministerial handbook, Premier Helen Zille said on Tuesday.
Speaking in a debate on the premier’s budget vote in the legislature, she said her administration did not believe that people’s money should be spent on “expensive cars, lavish parties and other luxuries that only benefit politicians”.
This year the provincial administration would produce a new ministerial handbook for the Western Cape Cabinet.
This would override the current ministerial handbook produced by national government, which applied to the national Cabinet as well as all nine provincial executives.
“The current national ministerial handbook facilitates and legalises a form of power abuse,” she said.
“When it is pointed out to national ministers that spending R1,2-million of public money on a ministerial car is excessive, they refer to the ministerial handbook which allows them to spend the equivalent of 70% of their salary on a car.
No excuses
“In the Western Cape, no provincial minister will be able to use this excuse.”
The handbook would start by reducing the amount that could be spent on a ministerial car to “a more appropriate amount”.
It would also tighten control over the office budgets of the premier and each minister.
It would reduce the scope for spending on items that had no direct bearing on service delivery such as parties, perks and functions. It would introduce regulations on the use of blue lights on ministerial vehicles — a step which Zille promised earlier this month.
“We are also going to review the rules around ministers’ hotel stays, flights and house alterations,” Zille said.
“The rules will be amended so that they are in line with the ‘no frills’ ethos of this government and our consciences.
“We cannot call on citizens to take personal responsibility, unless we use the people’s money responsibly and ethically.” — Sapa