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The figures emerged from government departments’ financial results tabled in parliament over the past few weeks, Beeld newspaper reported.

In the financial year ending on March 31 2012, the 34 state departments incurred the following costs:

— R194 million for catering 

— R31.7 million for entertainment 

— R4.4 billion for travel and accommodation expenses.

Dion George, DA MP, said expenditure of this kind while the country bled economically was a disgrace, and that it was totally unacceptable to spend such a large sum of money on frivolities.  

The three departments responsible for the most spending on entertainment, food and travel expenses were:

— defence (R780 million),

— the police (R685 million) and

— justice (R454 million).

The department of defence’s travel and accommodation expenses amounted to R733 million.  

“The DA will send a formal request to the minister of finance to issue a statement in which government departments are asked to stop spending money on luxuries,” George said.

“Wasting money in this manner amounts to negligence, during times in which poor South Africans are struggling to put food on the table.”

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Thu Jun 20 11:37:52 SAST 2013 ::

Oct 16, 2012

Maratachelete

I'm not surprised,all that talk about job creation is nothing but hot air.So,government is living it up,while some people can barely eat.
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Oct 16, 2012

DJ-Winner

As long as the law allowed them to access these funds, I see nothing wrong with it.

If it was wrongfully obtained, responsible person(s) must be brought to justice...
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Oct 16, 2012

ilsodas

We are screwed big time, and you people will vote for them next elections....
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Oct 16, 2012

Maratachelete

@DJ Winner,you might have a problem with government living large at the expense of taxpayers,such as myself and 5 million others,but I do,because all these billions could have ben used to better the lives of South Africans,who really need upliftment.Cannot believe you'd condone such riduculous behaviour from people.who are ought to know better.
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Oct 16, 2012

MissBhakajuju

nothing wrong here... if its part of the package, why not blow the cash ?? I hate cheap this cheap politicing by the DA, although they seem, to be the only alternative party to the dissapointing ANC- under JZ


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Oct 16, 2012

KeRataBasadi

@ DJ-Winner
As long as the law allowed them to access these funds, I see nothing wrong with it.

If it was wrongfully obtained, responsible person(s) must be brought to justice...
_______________________________________________________________________________

This from a chappies wrapper : Did You Know...

Apartheid had discriminatory laws, to which you still moan about today ?

According to your own logic though, anything enacted into law is okay, am I right or wrong DJ ?

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Oct 16, 2012

LBS

@ DJ-Winner
As long as the law allowed them to access these funds, I see nothing wrong with it.

If it was wrongfully obtained, responsible person(s) must be brought to justice...

----------------------------------------
@MissBhakajuju
nothing wrong here... if its part of the package, why not blow the cash ?? I hate cheap this cheap politicing by the DA, although they seem, to be the only alternative party to the dissapointing ANC- under JZ

---------------------------------------

You are both unbelievably obtuse!
Just because the law 'allows' it or it's written in the handbook DOES NOT make is morally acceptable or right when there is so much that needs to be done or fixed in this country.
Do not defend the indefensible - the DA are there to hold the opposition to account when it is TAXPAYERS money being squandered on frivolities by a few VERY GREEDY and MORALLY BANCRUPT poiticians!! :(
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Oct 16, 2012

Mashesha99

The country does not burn itself butthe people in it do, and then they'll want better roads and houses while they destroy the little that they have. A bunch of lazy and sad people is what they are, we all need to play a role in how our life turns out and stop pointing fingers for our failure!!
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Oct 16, 2012

DA-DBN-GUY

DJ-Winner
As long as the law allowed them to access these funds, I see nothing wrong with it.

If it was wrongfully obtained, responsible person(s) must be brought to justice...


You are as thick as shyte!!
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Oct 16, 2012

The-Vince

That's a lot of money, it just made me to think, how many proper RDP houses could have been built for the real needy of this country? and what does the government do? they spend it on "Le Good life", just to think of it, how many schools could have been built or could have been improved, and equeped with labs, Library and Computer centers? Ja we realy have to condemn this behaviour, even if they did it by the book, but such spending is ridiculous. it's an insult to many of us who have the interest of this country at heart, who want to see this country getting better for everyone, all young people getting the top class education they deserve and creating jobs and imparting skills to the people of this country, but nah fun comes first to u ANC.
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