Two Eastern Cape provincial ministers have run up a R1-million bill for official mileage with their private vehicles in just 20 months, the Dispatch Online reported on Wednesday.
They are finance minister Billy Nel and economic affairs and tourism minister Andre de Wet.
On Tuesday, it emerged that Nel had made travelling claims totalling R104 000 in December 2004 alone. In the 10 months that followed, this amount rose to more than R604 240.
De Wet submitted claims totalling R342 271 for the 2004/05 financial year and, from April 2005, additional claims totalling R348 959.
A memo from Siziwe Mbolompo, chief financial officer for his department, projected that by the end of the financial year in April, De Wet will have claimed a total of R523 439.
Had he used a government vehicle, he would have cost the taxpayer about R479 860 for the entire two-year period.
”It is hereby highly recommended that a government vehicle would be a better option to cut down costs with immediate effect,” Mbolompo stated.
De Wet said on Tuesday he had asked his department to investigate other cost-effective transport options, but added: ”I am six foot tall, and have long legs. I can’t sit at the back of a [Mercedes] C-Class comfortably.
”I need some comfort. That’s why I bought a Volvo [XC90 Diesel] in April 2004. In fact, there was no vehicle in the department when I was appointed [provincial minister].”
He said he had merely made use of the options available in the ministerial handbook.
”I’m extremely sensitive to costs. I’ve followed the rules … I claim for mileage only. I pay for the service of my car, petrol, insurance, tyres and breakdown myself.”
Nel insisted the use of a privately owned vehicle for work purposes is cost-effective.
”It’s unfortunate that a lot of people do not understand how this works,” he said. — Sapa