North West premier Supra Mahumapelo and the province's 10 MECs are shopping for new luxury cars.
The province's treasury has announced plans to buy 11 executive cars, sedans or SUVs, and another 10 relief vehicles for the remainder of Mahumapelo and his MECs' term.
In terms of the ministerial handbook, Mahumapelo, who earns R2.1-million a year, can buy a car costing up to 70% of his annual salary (around R1.46-million) while his MECs, paid R1.8-million annually, can get new wheels worth up to about R1.28-million.
The relief vehicles will include another four SUVs, four sedans and two light-duty vehicles, according to a concept document from the North West finance department.
But DA leader in the provincial legislature, Chris Hattingh, is not impressed, saying the deal is being concluded under a veil of secrecy to avoid publicly embarrassing Mahumapelo and his MECs.
"Some of the MECs have brand-new cars," said Hattingh, identifying health MEC Dr Magome Masike's Mercedes ML350.
The province's plans come less than two years after Mahumapelo's predecessor, Thandi Modise, bought a R1.3-million BMW 750i in December 2013.
This was followed by the province's health, social development, sports and education MECs, who also bought new cars, including Masike's R720000 Mercedes ML350.
Modise was appointed National Council of Provinces chairwoman after last year's general elections.
Ministers, their deputies, premiers and MECs must use official vehicles until they clock 120000km, according to the ministerial handbook.
In October 2013, during then finance minister Pravin Gordhan's last medium-term budget policy statement, he announced that the cost limit for official cars in relation to the executive (including national, provincial and local government) would be standardised and that bulk purchasing would be introduced to reduce costs.
The National Treasury did not respond to inquiries about the standardisation process and bulk purchasing.
Hattingh said Gordhan was very clear on the matter of expensive vehicles and promised to ask the provincial government to account on the amount spent on cars.
The provincial treasury's Kesalopa Gill referred inquiries to transport spokesman Shuping Sebolecwe, who did not respond to questions.
sidimbal@sowetan.co.za
Supra shops for cars
North West premier Supra Mahumapelo and the province's 10 MECs are shopping for new luxury cars.
The province's treasury has announced plans to buy 11 executive cars, sedans or SUVs, and another 10 relief vehicles for the remainder of Mahumapelo and his MECs' term.
In terms of the ministerial handbook, Mahumapelo, who earns R2.1-million a year, can buy a car costing up to 70% of his annual salary (around R1.46-million) while his MECs, paid R1.8-million annually, can get new wheels worth up to about R1.28-million.
The relief vehicles will include another four SUVs, four sedans and two light-duty vehicles, according to a concept document from the North West finance department.
But DA leader in the provincial legislature, Chris Hattingh, is not impressed, saying the deal is being concluded under a veil of secrecy to avoid publicly embarrassing Mahumapelo and his MECs.
"Some of the MECs have brand-new cars," said Hattingh, identifying health MEC Dr Magome Masike's Mercedes ML350.
The province's plans come less than two years after Mahumapelo's predecessor, Thandi Modise, bought a R1.3-million BMW 750i in December 2013.
This was followed by the province's health, social development, sports and education MECs, who also bought new cars, including Masike's R720000 Mercedes ML350.
Modise was appointed National Council of Provinces chairwoman after last year's general elections.
Ministers, their deputies, premiers and MECs must use official vehicles until they clock 120000km, according to the ministerial handbook.
In October 2013, during then finance minister Pravin Gordhan's last medium-term budget policy statement, he announced that the cost limit for official cars in relation to the executive (including national, provincial and local government) would be standardised and that bulk purchasing would be introduced to reduce costs.
The National Treasury did not respond to inquiries about the standardisation process and bulk purchasing.
Hattingh said Gordhan was very clear on the matter of expensive vehicles and promised to ask the provincial government to account on the amount spent on cars.
The provincial treasury's Kesalopa Gill referred inquiries to transport spokesman Shuping Sebolecwe, who did not respond to questions.
sidimbal@sowetan.co.za
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