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The Cargate scandal continues to grow -- a reply to a Democratic Alliance (DA) parliamentary question has revealed that the Department of Science and Technology has spent over R150,000 on accessories for two 2009 Mercedes Benz ML350s for Minister Naledi Pandor, which cost the South African taxpayer R1.4-million. This brings the total known amount spent on new vehicles by the ANC government to R18.5-million.

Both cars were fitted with the following accessories:

Metallic paint
Command navigation
Media interface
DVD player
Technical off road package
Heated front seats
Xenon active lights
Sunroof
Run flat
Private glass

Had the cars excluded the extras, the department would have saved the South African taxpayer R154,591. The DA will be submitting a follow-up question to determine why the extra money was spent on luxuries that are entirely unnecessary.

The department stated in its reply that the car was purchased in terms of the Ministerial Handbook. The DA has submitted to the Minister in the Presidency a series of austerity measures, one of which is a proposal that the percentage of a Minister's salary (70%) used to determine to what value a Minister can purchase a new car be reduced (to 50%), as the DA government has done in the Western Cape. The DA government has also put a freeze on the purchase of new ministerial cars.

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

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

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

Free State MECs x10

Free State Provincial Government

Mercedes Benz S500 x10

R970 000 x 10 = R9.7m (Source)

See here for complete list

Angie Motshekga

Basic Education (Cape Town)

BMW 730D

R894 500

None

Angie Motshekga

Basic Education (Pretoria)

Range Rover Sport TDV8

R809 592

Mudguards

Tina Joemat-Petterson

Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries

Mercedes Benz 2009 S350

R796 003

Black wooden/leather steering wheel and sunblinds rear window

Naledi Pandor

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

Naledi Pandor

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

Police

2008 BMW X5 3.0D

R685 091

"Included" reverse cameras; navigation system; sport suspension; sunroof; and electric seat adjustment.

Nathi Mthethwa

Police

2008 BMW X5 3.0D

R677 270

"Included" reverse cameras; navigation system; sport suspension; sunroof; and electric seat adjustment

Pravin Gordhan

Finance

Audi A6 3.0T

R590 500

-

Pravin Gordhan

Finance

Lexus GS 300 SE

R557 673

-
* Includes costs of extras, but excludes ongoing vehicle tracking and insurance costs

This brings the total spent on new cars to R18,565,042.00.

A copy of the parliamentary reply referred to in this statement is available upon request.