These Are The Vehicles Driven By SA Ministers

In a recent article – Important Stories You May Have Missed This Month – we mentioned that the National Treasury may soon be tasked with purchasing suitable vehicles for all ministers, deputy ministers, MEC’s and provincial premiers, in an effort to curb wasteful expenditure.

This all depends on whether plans to revise the current ministerial handbook will become a reality or not – revisions that will also see South African ministers barred from flying first class and taking their spouses on international trips.

The rampant splurging on luxury vehicles, in particular, has been a source of ire for South African citizens and opposition parties for some time now. Especially given the economic pressure we’re currently facing.

A couple of years ago, the DA even made a point of trading in their luxury vehicles for more modest modes of transport, such as Toyota Corolla’s or Hyundai i20’s.

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In 2017, it was reported that the ANC government had blown R42 million on luxury vehicles for ministers and their deputies in a three-year period.

Former Minister of Total Corruption, Faith Muthambi, once stated that ANC ministers and their deputies select expensive vehicles due to their lengthy travel requirements. They have to drive all the way out to rural and urban areas of the country.

You may remember Muthambi as being the minister behind the complete collapse of the SABC, employing an unnecessary personal staff of 27 people – most of them her family, trading confidential emails with the Guptas and blowing half a million in taxpayer funds to fly friends and family around the country. What a stand up gal she is.

Anyway, a report compiled by Africa Check just last year, showed that members of our horrendously bloated cabinet receive 25% of their salary towards a private vehicle – which includes maintenance and comprehensive insurance. These are just part of the benefits that come with serving as a member of the government.

However, the DA has stated that ministers are often spending a whole lot more, and that this extravagant expenditure is protected by a very flawed ministerial handbook – which states that ministers and deputy ministers are permitted to spend up to R3.5 million and R2.9 million on a vehicle, respectively.

Let’s have a look at some of the vehicles these ministers are driving in 2019, and how much they’re worth. Bear in mind that this data includes all vehicles purchased since April 2016, and only includes the information currently available.

These are the departments of trade and industry, transport, social development and tourism. It excludes the other 32 portfolios, including the president and deputy president.

How Much Money Has The South African Government Wasted?