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Five Gauteng Government departments spent R6.5 million on travel and subsistence last year.

This is revealed in written replies to my questions to the MECs of the five departments.

The biggest spender was the Department of Local Government and Housing, which spent about R3 million on air tickets, rental cars, hotels and food.

Of this, R419 000 was spent by the MEC’s support staff. MEC Humphrey Mmemezi’s rental car of choice was a BMW X5, which seems quite extravagant.

Other departments spent as follows:

· Agriculture and Rural Development – R1.3 million
· Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation – R1.158 million
· Infrastructure Development – R626 000
· Community Safety – R470 000
 

Travel costs for Sports MEC Lebogang Maile amounted to R193 555, including hire of a Mercedes C-Class at R1300 a day.

Agriculture MEC Nandi Mayathula-Khoza has more modest tastes – she hired a Seat Ibiza 2.0 Sport SD at a cost of R543.72.

The justification given for these costs is departmental policy or the MEC’s handbook.

It is clear that there is unnecessary lavish spending at taxpayers’ expense. Gauteng should follow the lead of the Western Cape Provincial Government which mandates economy class air travel rather than business class and modest C and D category car hire – this includes vehicles like a Chev Aveo or Honda Civic.

Replies from five other departments on travel expenses are still awaited.

The DA will monitor any wasteful spending and push for it to be curbed so that as much money as possible goes on service delivery, not unnecessary luxury.