A reply to a Democratic Alliance parliamentary question has revealed that the department of water and environment affairs has purchased a R900,000 BMW for deputy minister Rejoice Mabudafhasi.

The vehicle includes several optional extras:

• A sports leather steering wheel
• The extended light package
• A tow-bar with removable head

The total cost of the vehicle came to R897,704.88, and extras amounted to R12,700.

This kind of wastage is quite outrageous - this is one of the most expensive vehicles purchased by a cabinet minister yet. Indeed, only Communications Minister Siphiwe Nyanda and Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande have spent more on their cars. In this economic climate, and given the urgent need to invest funds in service delivery and basic infrastructure, no cabinet minister should be spending R900,000 on a ministerial vehicle.

In particular, deputy minister Mabudafhasi's actions need to be viewed in light of ongoing claims from the ANC government and their alliance partners that there is a genuine commitment to cutting wasteful expenditure. Recently a Cosatu spokesperson admitted that ministers buying expensive cars was giving "politics a bad name", but none of this rhetoric ever seems to translates into action. Deputy minister Mabudafhasi is the former National Treasurer of a Cosatu-affiliated trade union, but she has quickly eschewed any sympathies for the plight of the working class with this ministerial purchase. Only in the DA's Western Cape administration, where no MECs have purchased any new vehicles, and the Premier is using cars from the existing government garage stock, is there a genuine commitment to austerity, and are funds genuinely being shifted away from luxuries, and towards delivering services and building infrastructure.

This purchase brings to R38-million the total known amount wasted by the ANC government on ministerial vehicles. However, with 4 ministers and 13 deputy ministers still to respond to Democratic Alliance parliamentary questions, and with details of the expenditure of most of the country's MECs still outstanding, it is likely that the final figure will be a great deal higher than that.

The DA will add these purchases to our Wasteful Expenditure Monitor, which as of yesterday stood at R202-million.


FULL LIST OF MINISTERIAL VEHICLE PURCHASES:

Minister Department Vehicle Total Cost* Extras
Ace Magashule Premier of the Free State Mercedes Benz S600 R1 300 000
(Source)
See here for complete list
Siphiwe Nyanda Minister of Communications (Pretoria) BMW 750i, 2009 model R1 271 800
Dynamic Drive (body roll stabilisation); Sports leather steering wheel (3 spoke); Electric Rear Screen Roller Sun blind with manual side blinds; Active cruise control with Stop & Go function; Rear-seat entertainment; High-gloss satin chrome; Sun protection glazing; Special wheel design recommended for the 750i; rear view camera; ceramic surround for controls; ambient interior lighting; adaptive headlights; high beam assist; lane departure warning; lane change warning
Siphiwe Nyanda Minister of Communications (Cape Town) BMW 750i, 2009 model R1 147 600
Sports leather steering wheel (3 spoke); Rear view camera; High Beam Assist; Special wheel design recommended for the 750i
Blade Nzimande Minister of Higher Education and Training (Pretoria) BMW 750i, 2009 model R1 110 750 Not disclosed
Free State MECs x10 Free State Provincial Government Mercedes Benz S500 x10 R970 000 x 10 = R9.7m (Source)
See here for complete list
Mahlakeng Mahlakeng North West MEC for public works BMW 735 R900 000 TBC
Desbo Sefanyetso North West MEC for housing Mercedes GL500 R900 000 TBC
Rejoice Mabudafhasi Deputy minister of Water and Environmental Affairs BMW X5 R897 704 Sports leather steering wheel; extended light package; tow-bar with removable head
Angie Motshekga Minister of Basic Education (Cape Town) BMW 730D R894 500
None
Angie Motshekga Minister of Basic Education (Cape Town) BMW 730D R894 500
None
Gordon Kegakilwe North West MEC for local government BMW X6 R890 500 TBC
Boitumelo Tshwene North West MEC for Agriculture BMW 740i R878 700 TBC
Johannes "OJ" Tselapedi North West MEC for education Merc GL500 R874 200 TBC
Madala Masuku Mpumalanga MEC for Human Settlements BMW X5 R845 200 TBC
Phumulo Masualle Eastern Cape MEC for Health Range Rover HSE R820 204 TBC
Angie Motshekga Minister of Basic Education (Pretoria) Range Rover Sport TDV8 R809 592 Mudguards
Tina Joemat-Petterson Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Mercedes Benz 2009 S350 R796 003 Black wooden/leather steering wheel and sunblinds rear window
Grace Pampiri North West MEC for sports and culture Audi Q7 4.2 R795 064 Grace Pampiri
Aaron Motsoaledi Minister of Health Mercedes Benz E500 R757 545 Navigation system
Thokozile Xasa Deputy minister of tourism BMW 550is x2 R750 000 x2 TBC
Mcebisi Jonas Eastern Cape MEC for Finance Mercedes Benz ML500 R772 266 TBC
Pinky Kekana Limpopo MEC for transport BMW X5 R727 571 TBC
Naledi Pandor Minister of Science and Technology (Pretoria) Mercedes Benz 2009 S250 R711 718 Metallic paint, Command navigation, Media interface, DVD player, Technical off road package, Heated front seats, Xenon active lights, Sunroof, Run flat, Private glass
Mohlalefi Mokoena Mpumalanga MEC for traditional affairs Mercedes-Benz ML 350 R699 000 TBC
Naledi Pandor Minister of Science and Technology (Cape Town) Mercedes Benz 2009 S250 R695 095 Metallic paint, Command navigation, Media interface, DVD player, Technical off road package, Heated front seats, Xenon active lights, Sunroof, Run flat, Private glass
Nathi Mthethwa Minister of Police 2008 BMW X5 3.0D R685 091 "Included" reverse cameras; navigation system; sport suspension; sunroof; and electric seat adjustment.
Nathi Mthethwa Minister of Police 2008 BMW X5 3.0D R677 270 "Included" reverse cameras; navigation system; sport suspension; sunroof; and electric seat adjustment
Enoch Godongwana Deputy Minister of Public Enterprises Iridium Silver Mercedes-Benz E350 R672 938 None
Noluthando Mayende-Sibiya Minister of women, youth, children and people with disabilities Range Rover and Audi A6 R1 263 113 (total) = R631 556 (average) None
Sibongile Manana Mpumalanga MEC for community safety Mercedes-Benz ML 320 CDI R620 000 TBC
Pemmy Majodina Eastern Cape MEC for public works Audi Q7 3.0 litre TDI R616 000 -
Pravin Gordhan Minister of Finance Audi A6 3.0T R590 500 -
Dikeledi Mahlangu Mpumalanga MEC for health Mercedes-Benz ML 500 R583 000 TBC
Pravin Gordhan Minister of Finance Lexus GS 300 SE R557 673 -
Aaron Motsoaledi Minister of Health Mercedes Benz E200 R451 134 -
Total R38 308 527
* Includes costs of extras, but excludes ongoing vehicle tracking and insurance costs
PARLIAMENTARY REPLY:
1177. Mrs A T Lovemore (DA) to ask the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs:

(1) Whether her Deputy Minister or her department purchased a new vehicle on the Deputy Minister's appointment to office; if so, (a) why, (b) what make and model is the vehicle, (c) what did the vehicle cost and (d)(i) what accessories were included in excess of the vehicle's purchase price and (ii) what was the cost of such accessories; if not,

(2) whether she inherited an existing vehicle; if so, (a) what was the make and model and (b) how old is the vehicle? &n bsp;

NW1512E

(1) Yes

(1)(a) The Deputy Minister's vehicle (BMW X5, 4.8L) transferred from the previous Department reached 150 000 kilometer travelling distance in the 5 year distribution period leased from Kgwerano Financial Solutions.

(1)(b) BMW X5, 4.8L.

(1)(c) R 897,704.88.

(1)(d)(i) Tow bar with removable head.
Sports Leather Steering Wheel.
Extended Light Package.

(1)(d)(ii) R 12,699.99 included VAT.

(2)(a) Yes, the vehicle for Cape Town was transferred from previous Department, Mercedes Benz E-Class 350.

(2)(b) The vehicle is two (2) years and six (6) months old and was first registered on the 27 February 2007.