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DIM VIEW: Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa has vowed to act against nonessential spending. PHOTO: Peggy Nkomo

In less than two months R1-million had been spent by police management on catering and just under R90,000 on entertainment, it emerged in a reply to a parliamentary question.

Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa, who released the reply, was highly critical of the expenditure and has promised concerted action over what is considered a waste of public funds.

"I am not happy with the amounts spent, particularly on entertainment, and will be looking into this matter," he said.

"I believe police management must be held accountable for spending the department's budget and I intend to do this over the next two months."

Mthethwa said entertainment included lunch meetings with colleagues, foreign delegations and-or other individuals in and outside the public sector.

There was also catering related to costs for functions like lekgotlas, workshops, indabas, training sessions and for other government bodies and official commissions.

This goes against a number of cabinet directives to departments to cut down on nonessential spending such as entertainment, unnecessary travel and accommodation.

Spokesman Zweli Mnisi said police management needed to be held accountable for the expenditure.

"Those whom we find to have grossly violated internal policies will obviously have to face the law in terms of disciplinary procedures," Mnisi said.

"This is taxpayers' money and they need to make sure that there's a return on the taxpayers' investment."

Last year, R22-million was spent on catering and R2.5-million on entertainment.

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Thu Jun 20 14:13:38 SAST 2013 ::

May 31, 2012

tpaz

I find this to be normal expenditure......
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May 31, 2012

Mzalaz

CATERING AND ENTERTAINMENT that's what this Zooma's government is so good at while there are still children who are taught under the trees. Freedom for richer and poor will remain poor, sad but true. South Africans are oppressed by blacks
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May 31, 2012

MorenaWaPolelo

Yah no wonder why they are round!!Nathi there i nothing you can do Sir, every function must have food so next year the expenditure will be double Sir food prices are going up and kick backs are also having a factor.
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May 31, 2012

MGEEZ

No wonder many police are obese and out of shape; they ar feeding thesmselves with our money!!! Mthethwa do not act all innocent; because you should have known about this.
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May 31, 2012

Kinggeezo

How to spend a million in 2 months on food- Ask the plice's top brass.
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May 31, 2012

mambaaai

this explains why 1 in 3 police telphone numbers work, explains why we have the highest rape statistics in the world...world with some of the lowest conviction rates in the world
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May 31, 2012

Sugaar

It seems everyone need to please showerman ,there is no waistfull expaditure here this is normal.
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May 31, 2012

NDA

They enjoy singing and dancing work comes last.
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May 31, 2012

mathopeed

A millions on food and entertainment, thats too much. What kind of foods does this people eat, and what kind of entertainment (Beyonce perhaps). But honestly people, why this unnecessary expenditure while students attent under trees in Limpopo and Eastern Cape. Nathi, why dont you clean you houze mare (or like father like son) unless you involved. we are goin nower. ANC ya palelwa and it will fall ne day
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May 31, 2012

Balobedu

anc are dead animals. Is only ashes which are left in the anc. When police are spending such, where was the anc and its thugs. They are the ones who are corrupting our country. I think is the high time for the people of South Africa to recognise DA. DA is the only party for the people. Viva DA viva
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