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The Democratic Alliance (DA) has received two parliamentary replies from the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, revealing that the department has spent a total of R2,246,570.00 on vehicles for the minister and his deputy. A total of R81,848.00 has been spent on frivolous extras, including such ridiculously unnecessary items as BOSE sound systems and electrically folding tow bars. We would like to know how BOSE sound systems and electrically folding tow bars could possibly help the ministers perform their jobs better. We would like to know how the R81,848.00 spent on these additional items could possibly constitute acceptable spending - particularly during a recession, and with such urgent social delivery backlogs. Other accessories on these vehicles include:
• Advance key privacy gloss
• Audit lane change assist
• 19"7 spoke design alloy wheels
• Burr Wallnut High Gloss
• Reversing camera
• Various bluetooth devices (x3)
The total cost of all extras bought by ministers for their vehicles now stands at over R1million. But what is most remarkable of all, is that the deputy minister states in his reply that he is using Prados and X-Trails to get around, and that he is presently ordering two vehicles at a cost of R342,688 each. If R342,688 vehicles are good enough for the deputy minister to perform his duties, why do the minister's vehicles both need to be more than twice as expensive? His R828,850.00 Mercedes Benz S320CDI and R732,344.00 Audi Q7 4.2 TDi Quattro Tiptronic constitute another R1.5m of blatant wasteful expenditure. On the basis of these replies, I will submit a question to the department of cooperative governance, asking why the minister needs vehicles that are more than double the price of his deputy's vehicles, and why a BOSE sound system or electronically folding tow bar constitutes acceptable expenditure of government funds. MEDIA ENQUIRIES:
Marti Wenger MP - 083 226 5226 or 016 366 0034 Ross van der Linde - 076 543 7254 PARLIAMENTARY REPLIES: ORAL QUESTIONS AND REPLIES BY MINISTER SHICEKA - COOPERATIVE GOVERNANCE & TRADITIONAL AFFAIRS 28 OCTOBER 2009 264. Ms M Wenger (DA) to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs: [Written Question No 360] - Minister (1) Whether he purchased a new vehicle on his 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 he inherited an existing vehicle; if so, (a) what was the make and model and (b) how old is the vehicle? NW420E ANSWER (1) (a) The Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs acquired new vehicles as the previous or old vehicles were acquired in terms of the option 3 (Full Maintenance Leasing of Vehicles) which provided flexibility of disposal of the vehicles every two years. The option 3 as mentioned above, was incorporated when Chapeter 5 of the Ministerial Hand Book was revised by the Minister of Transport and implemented on 24 June 2004. (b) The vehicles acquired are as follows: Audi Q7 4.2 TDi Quattro Tiptronic - 2008 model Mercedes Benz S320CDI - 2008 model (c) The vehicles costs: Audi Q7 4.2 TDi Quattro Tiptronic - R732 344.00 Mercedes Benz S320CDI - R828 850.00 (d) (i) The vehicle accessories: (Audi Q7) Metallic Paint, electrical folding tow bar, advance key, privacy glass, 3rd row seats, Audit lane change assist, BOSE sound system, 19"7 spoke design alloy wheel and cell phone preparation in front centre armrest with Bluetooth. The accessories costs are R63 054.00. (Mercedes Benz S320CDI) Reversing camera and Burr Wallnut High Gloss The accessories costs are R10 500.00 (2) I have not inherited any vehicle. ORAL QUESTIONS AND REPLIES BY MINISTER SHICEKA - COOPERATIVE GOVERNANCE & TRADITIONAL AFFAIRS 28 OCTOBER 2009 302. Mr W P Doman (DA) to ask the Minister for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs: [Written Question No 1205] (1) Whether his Deputy Minister or his 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 he inherited an existing vehicle; if so, (a) what was the make and model and (b) how old is the vehicle? NW1544E ANSWER (1) No. The Deputy Minister currently uses, as are available, a Nissan X-Trail, Toyota Prado, Toyota Verso and his personal cars. He is to get a VW Touareg for use in Cape Town and another for use in Tshwane. The cost of each vehicle is R342 688. The Ministerial Handbook provides for a car of up to R1,1 28 437. The accessory is a Bluetooth device worth R3 647, which is included in the above price. (2) He inherited a four-year old Mercedes-Benz E240 and a three-year old Mercedes-Benz E500.