The Democratic Alliance (DA) has today updated its Wasteful Expenditure Monitor, and the increased total now stands at R569 million, an increase of some R243 million. In every instance (see below) public money was spent in poor judgement without prudence or simply on extravagances that serve little purpose other than shoring up the egos of the relevant department or member of the executive. The major contributor to the increase is the purchase of a jet for the Department of Police, at a cost of R150 million, despite the fact that the South African Police Force has a national carrier and the Airforce at its disposal. The Department of Human Settlements has also wasted R22.5 million on a play that cost more than Sarafina 1 and 2, and have exceeded their R20 million advertising budget by R40 million, with little to show for this exorbitant overspending. Parties continue to be thrown and cars continue to be splashed out on. In his state of the nation address in June, President Jacob Zuma made the following commitment: "Since the implementation of our programme will take place in the face of the economic downturn, we will have to act prudently - no wastage, no rollovers of funds - every cent must be spent wisely and fruitfully. We must cut our cloth according to our size." As each day passes, that commitment rings more and more hollow. If the ANC government continues down this path of misspending of public funds and complete disregard for the value of money, creating an image of government elites living in the lap of luxury, while service delivery falters and citizens' interests are ignored, South Africans will lose all faith in democracy. The following examples are new incidences of overspending in government:
Amount Details Department Responsible
R22,5 million Sarafina-style theatre production, paid for by the Department of Human Settlements in the 2008/09 financial year (under former minister Lindiwe Sisulu) Department of Human Settlements
Link <http://www.mailfire.co.za/link/QlJVTj0xMzU3MyZMSUQ9NTMxMTkmU0lEPTEwMTk1MzY=.aspx>
R40 million
The Department of Human Settlements' reply to a DA parliamentary question has revealed that it spent R60 million on advertising during the 2008/09 financial year after an initial budget of R20 million.
Department of Human Settlements
Link <http://www.mailfire.co.za/link/QlJVTj0xMzU3MyZMSUQ9NTMxMjAmU0lEPTEwMTk1MzY=.aspx>
R150 million A reply to a DA parliamentary question has revealed that the South African Police Service (SAPS) purchased a Cessna Citation Sovereign private business jet, at a cost of R150 million, to usher cabinet ministers and senior officials around South Africa and Africa. South African Police Service
Link <http://www.mailfire.co.za/link/QlJVTj0xMzU3MyZMSUQ9NTMxMjEmU0lEPTEwMTk1MzY=.aspx>
R23.9 million A response to a DA parliamentary question revealed that the DPSA spent R54 million on 22 conferences during the period 1 January 2006 to 30 September 2009. The most expensive event (Global Forum V Fighting Corruption and Safeguarding Integrity) cost R23, 9 million, for just 850 guests. The average cost per head in the case ballooned to a staggering R28 118. Department of Public Service and Administration
Link <http://www.mailfire.co.za/link/QlJVTj0xMzU3MyZMSUQ9NTMxMjImU0lEPTEwMTk1MzY=.aspx>
R157 000 From the Sowetan: In the Gauteng Health Department, R107 000 of taxpayer's money was spent on calendars that came too late to be useful, and another R50 000 on a workshop that most delegates didn't pitch for (62/150 attended). Gauteng Health Department
link <http://www.mailfire.co.za/link/QlJVTj0xMzU3MyZMSUQ9NTMxMjMmU0lEPTEwMTk1MzY=.aspx>
R1,6 million From Pretoria News: The head of human resources at the Department of Communications faces 26 internal disciplinary charges related to her alleged misconduct, including gross negligence, breach of duties and wasteful expenditure. She allegedly insisted that three companies provide recruitment services to the department for 2 years at a cost of R3-million, against department policy. The department believes that this amounted to "fruitless and wasteful" expenditure of about R1,6m as there were employees in the department who could have done the same job. Department of Communications
link <http://www.mailfire.co.za/link/QlJVTj0xMzU3MyZMSUQ9NTMxMjQmU0lEPTEwMTk1MzY=.aspx>
R4-million From the Sowetan: An Mpumalanga government department that must recover R61-million lost to corrupt officials has misspent a further R4-million. The Department of Public Works, Roads and Transport claims it spent the money "wrongly" while preparing for the construction of the provincial archive in Mbombela. "The report of the auditor-general indicated that the department could not provide detailed information on the amount of R4 116 721 that was spent on the planning of the archive building," said provincial chairperson of the Select Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa), Fish Mahlalela.
R748 255 A Mercedes Benz ML500 at a cost of R748 255 was purchased for the Deputy Minister Minister of Trade and Industry Ntuli

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.