Government splurges R42m on luxury motor cars
Ministers and deputies appear to ignore Finance Minister Gordhan’s call for austerity measures as the DA vows to reprioritise the expenditure so that the poor benefit
The government spent a staggering R42m on the procurement of luxury vehicles for ministers and their deputies between 2014 and 2017. According to the DA, a range of parliamentary replies to questions across all governmental departments reveal that millions of rand were spent on the purchase of vehicles over a three year period. This is despite National Treasury’s no-nonsense austerity measures which among other things seek to cut back spending on lavish hotel stays, expensive flights, credit cards and luxury cars. The ministerial handbook permits ministers to have access to two vehicles to be used in Cape Town and Pretoria. The value of the vehicle may not be more than 70% of the minister's salary. Ministers earn about R2.3m annually while their deputies get paid just over R1.9m. Desiree van der Walt, a DA MP and spokeswoman on public service and administration said: "It is revealing that these ANC ministers continue to spend such outrageous amounts of public money on luxury vehicle...
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