On the same day that Minister Gordhan called for an end to "wasteful extravagances", it has emerged that the Department of Transport spent R461,227.81 on a lunch party to mark the minister's budget vote speech. 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 held at Parliament by the Department on budget vote day in July. Regrettably, this appears to be yet another example of the ANC government saying one thing, and then doing precisely the opposite. How does Minister Ndebele justify this level of exorbitance at a time of economic recession, where ordinary people are battling to make ends meet? During this time of economic crisis, when hundreds of thousands of ordinary South Africans are losing their jobs and businesses across the country are shutting down, government should be setting the tone for austerity and sound financial management. This is R460,000 less to spend on the basic services and infrastructure our country so desperately needs. We call, once again, on the Presidency, to act on the recommendations we submitted for changes to the ministerial handbook, which would immediately serve to clamp down on wasteful and fruitless expenditure. MEDIA ENQUIRIES:
Stuart Farrow MP - 083 676 1017 Ross van der Linde - 076 543 7254 PARLIAMENTARY REPLY: NATIONAL ASSEMBLY FOR WRITTEN REPLY QUESTION NO 541 DATE REPLY SUBMITTED: TUESDAY, 27 OCTOBER 2009 DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: FRIDAY, 10 JULY 2009 (INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 6 - 2009) Mr J J van der Linde (DA) asked the Minister of Transport: Whether any function was organised to mark the occasion of the delivery of his budget vote in 2009; if so, (a) what total amount was spent on this function, (b) from which budget was the money allocated, (c) what amount was spent on (i) food and refreshments, (ii) venue, (iii) entertainment, (iv) staff and (v) transport and (d) how many persons were invited to attend this function? NW605E REPLY: The Minister of Transport: Yes, a function (formal lunch) 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. (a) R461 227.81. (b) The budget was derived from the Chief Directorate: Campaigns and Events Management, Office of the Director-General, Department of Transport. (c) (i), (ii), (iii) The breakdown of the expenditure is as follows:- Item (i) Catering (refreshments and lunch) R61 919.15 (ii) Venue Nil (iii) Décor and sound equipment R248 613.95 Total R310 533.10 (iv) No additional cost was incurred for staff. (v) The cost for transport was R12 208.00. The remaining R138 486.71 was spent on the exhibition that was held at Parliament on Budget day. (d) 200 persons were invited to the function.