Parties by government departments following the successful passage of their Budget votes through Parliament have cost South African taxpayers almost R1,7-million, says the Democratic Alliance.
The figure is a ”running total” because to date only 20 departments have responded to a series of parliamentary questions about the costs of hosting annual post-Budget-vote parties, DA public service and administration spokesperson Karel Minnie said in a statement on Wednesday.
The most expensive celebration — R489 681-worth of partying — was the one held by the Department of Public Service and Administration.
The cheapest were the departments of labour and finance, which did not hold budget vote parties, he said.
”While no one begrudges the departments and their officials an appropriate celebration at the time of the Budget, it is quite clear that some departments have spent much more than is necessary on these functions.
”They must remember that they are not using their own money for the parties; they are, in fact, using taxpayers’ money,” Minnie said.
The second-most-expensive Budget vote parties held by a government department were those one hosted by social development — one for National Assembly and the other for National Council of Provinces members — to the tune of R242 679.
The cheapest party actually held was one by the Department of Communications, which was sponsored by Telkom, MTN, Vodacom and Siemens, and cost taxpayers nothing at all. The four companies picked up the R152 363 tab.
Minnie said a follow-up question has been sent to Minister of Public Service and Administration Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi asking for a breakdown of her department’s big party bill. — Sapa