Gauteng Premier Paul Mashatile should heed Finance Minister Trevor Manuel's call to cut back on unnecessary entertainment and travel.
Gauteng Premier Paul Mashatile should heed Finance Minister Trevor Manuel's call to cut back on unnecessary entertainment and travel.
A DA study reveals that R305million was spent on travel last year and more than R38million on entertainment. The biggest travel spender is the education department at R67million, followed by health at R66million and transport, roads and public works at R40million.
The Gauteng Shared Services Centre, which is a disaster, spent R9,5million on local and R3,8million on foreign travel. Big spenders on entertainment are social development (R8,3million), sports, arts, recreation and culture (R6,3million), education (R5,2million), community safety (R4,8million) and agriculture, conservation and environment (R4,5million).
While some of this spending can be justified, much is plain waste. Many unnecessary promotional advertisements cost millions, but are pushed up now as it is election time. Mashatile did not announce any cutbacks in his opening speech nor in this year's provincial budget. He sets a poor example with his extravagant dinners. This is unacceptable while people suffer in this economic downturn and from lack of service delivery.
Jack Bloom MPL, DA Leader, Gauteng Legislature
Stop wasteful expenditure
Gauteng Premier Paul Mashatile should heed Finance Minister Trevor Manuel's call to cut back on unnecessary entertainment and travel.
Gauteng Premier Paul Mashatile should heed Finance Minister Trevor Manuel's call to cut back on unnecessary entertainment and travel.
A DA study reveals that R305million was spent on travel last year and more than R38million on entertainment. The biggest travel spender is the education department at R67million, followed by health at R66million and transport, roads and public works at R40million.
The Gauteng Shared Services Centre, which is a disaster, spent R9,5million on local and R3,8million on foreign travel. Big spenders on entertainment are social development (R8,3million), sports, arts, recreation and culture (R6,3million), education (R5,2million), community safety (R4,8million) and agriculture, conservation and environment (R4,5million).
While some of this spending can be justified, much is plain waste. Many unnecessary promotional advertisements cost millions, but are pushed up now as it is election time. Mashatile did not announce any cutbacks in his opening speech nor in this year's provincial budget. He sets a poor example with his extravagant dinners. This is unacceptable while people suffer in this economic downturn and from lack of service delivery.
Jack Bloom MPL, DA Leader, Gauteng Legislature
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