Government’s ”wasteful expenditure” stands at R326-million due to officials buying luxury vehicles and the hosting of lavish parties, the Democratic Alliance said on Sunday.
”The R7,7-million increase is the result of money having been spent purely on unnecessary luxuries. The ANC government’s insistence on throwing parties at the drop of a hat is costing the South African taxpayer millions of rands,” said spokesperson Lindiwe Mazibuko.
Mazibuko said the DA’s ”Wasteful Expenditure Monitor” indicates that numerous departments have splashed out a total of R2Â 575Â 279 on unnecessary budget vote parties.
The Energy department was the highest at R412Â 077.
”This lavish spending by the ANC-led government shows no sign of abating, as President Jacob Zuma publicly calls for financial austerity but repeatedly fails to act on those who don’t listen to him,” said Mazibuko.
Meanwhile, DA spokesperson on finance Dion George said the R589-million spent on Zuma’s larger Cabinet could have been used to build houses for people.
”The R589-million could have built more than 10Â 000 RDP [Reconstruction and Development Programme] homes (at R54Â 000 per unit). That would represent a real and tangible impact on the lives of thousands of ordinary South Africans,” said George.
He called the establishment of new government departments and the appointment of additional ministers and deputy ministers a ”political exercise to appease the various factions within the ANC with ‘perks and privileges of executive office”.
”Whether these new ministries will be able to have an equivalent impact is difficult to measure, but if precedent is any indication they will not,” he said.
The ministerial handbook says ministers may purchase vehicles to the value of 70% of their salaries.
‘Not well-advised’
Meanwhile, Planning Commission Minister in the Presidency Trevor Manuel conceded last week that buying a R1,2-million BMW for his official use was not well-advised.
Manuel was asked about the car by Democratic Alliance chief whip Ian Davidson during question time in the National Assembly.
”That the vehicle is expensive … I concede that it is an error of judgement,” Manuel told the House.
”I’ve run the numbers and the vehicle is now five months old. It has 6 700km on the clock, and vehicles depreciate very, very, very quickly, and in the current circumstance, probably would not find a buyer and be written down a lot more quickly.” – Sapa