The Department of Public Enterprises really knows how to throw an expensive party, figures released by the Democratic Alliance (DA) revealed on Wednesday.
The post-Budget bash arranged by the department earlier this year — for 36 guests — cost R136 524, DA MP Motlatjo Thetjeng said in a statement.
This worked out to R3 792 per head.
”A series of DA parliamentary questions has revealed that 26 government departments spent just over R2-million on Budget vote parties this year,” he said.
Although public enterprises spent more per head than any other department, the most expensive party in terms of total cost was hosted the Department of Minerals and Energy, which spent R281 517 on 650 guests.
Not far behind was public service and administration, which spent R254 478 on 500 guests.
DA spokesperson Gareth van Onselen told the South African Press Association the R136 524 spent by public enterprises included R94 000 in travel expenses — the cost of getting those invited to the party. The venue is not known.
The ”cheapest” post-Budget celebrations were those by the departments of provincial and local government, environmental affairs and tourism, labour and, finance, which did not hold parties. Those hosted by the departments housing and communications were entirely sponsored.
Thetjeng said the DA did not begrudge any department the right to celebrate its achievements.
”However, another series of DA questions has revealed that most departments already spend a substantial amount on their end-of-year functions, which suggests that the Budget vote parties are an excess rather than a necessity,” he said. — Sapa