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The Democratic Alliance (DA) has today updated the Wasteful Expenditure Monitor, and the increased total now stands at R326 million, due largely to the purchase of more luxury vehicles for cabinet ministers and their deputies, and lavish parties held by national government departments. The ANC government's insistence on throwing parties at the drop of a hat is costing the South African taxpayer millions of rands. Numerous national departments have splashed out a total of R2 575 279 on unnecessary budget vote parties. Arriving at these parties in style must be one of the main attractions, as BMWs, Mercedes- Benz, 4x4s and other flashy vehicles have all been bought for ministers. And if National Police Chief, Bheki Cele, is anything to go by, then leaving the party is indeed a "grand exit" if you have a palatial house to go home to - Cele's costing in the region of R3.3 million. 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 - including former defender of austerity, Trevor Manuel, who joined his colleagues in buying the ever-desirable BMW 750i, kitted out with a selection of luxury extras. This increase of R7.7 million is the result of money having been spent purely on unnecessary luxuries:
Amount Details Department Responsible
R 576 444 A BMW 530d, 2009 model, was purchased for the Deputy Minister of Human Settlements at a cost of R 576 444.14 VAT. Inclusive Deputy Minister of Human Settlements
R447 252 The Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) rehired Wendy Luhabe 2 weeks after a R500,000 farewell party was held for her.
Rob Davies, the minister of trade and industry, confirmed in a written response to a parliamentary question that the funded Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) was unaware of the plan to rehire Wendy Luhabe, wife of former Gauteng premier Mbhazima Shilowa, when it threw the R447 252.03 farewell bash for her. The party for 120 guests was held on September 11 last year and the corporation was told two weeks later that Luhabe was back on board.

State funded Industrial Development Corporation (IDC)
R662 499 The Minister in the presidency purchased a Volkswagen Touareg V8, 4.2, at a total cost of R662 499, including Extras to the value of R43 440 Minister in the presidency
R461 227 A party was organized to mark the occasion of the delivery of the Minister of Transport's Budget Vote in an Extended Public Committee in the National Assembly on Friday, 03 July 2009, to the amount of R461 227.81.

The function was paid for entirely by the Department of Transport. It included R248 613.95 spent on décor and sound equipment, while catering costs amounted to R61 919.15. A further R138 486.71 was spent on an exhibition. Department of Transport
R 893 641 Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority (PSIRA), the public body that regulates the private security industry and controls the practices of private security service providers has purchased R615 043 worth of printer cartridges that were not compatible with their printers. They also signed a lease to the amount of R278 598 for premises that are not utilised by them. Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority (PSIRA)
R3.3 million Police Chief Bheki Cele's splurge on a R3.3 million-rand house in an upmarket Pretoria suburb instead of opting for a less expensive official residence in Silverton demonstrated his lack of prudence and is a slap in the face for President Jacob Zuma's austerity measures. Police Chief Bheki Cele
R 1 340 388 The amount spent by several National Departments on budget vote parties: Energy: R412 077
Social Development - R180 026
Arts and Culture - R223 281
International Relations - R160 440
Human Settlements - R114 184
Correctional Services - R101 594
Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs - R67 768
Police - R56 695
Justice and Constitutional Development - R24 323

As part of its oversight role as the official opposition, the DA introduced the Wasteful Expenditure Monitor as a means of measuring the extent of the ANC government's fruitless and wasteful expenditure of public funds, and to demonstrate how often the needs of the ANC elite are put before the needs of ordinary South Africans.

The DA once again calls on government departments and members of the executive to do the right thing and, following the example of the DA provincial government in the Western Cape, implement measures to monitor and cut back on unnecessary government spending. We will continue to monitor the situation and make the necessary additions to the Wasteful Expenditure Monitor as and when they occur.