Western Cape Premier Helen Zille has asked for a cheaper official car after discovering that her hired Mercedes-Benz is costing taxpayers R15 000 a month to hire.
This comes in the wake of revelations that three national cabinet ministers have bought super-luxury new cars worth R4,9-million between them - this despite President Jacob Zuma's promise to trim the fat on government spending, especially during the global economic crisis.
Shortly after taking office, Zille's provincial cabinet unanimously agreed not to buy luxury new cars - despite being permitted to under current government guidelines.
Instead, Zille reluctantly accepted a Mercedes from the government garage - a relatively modest second-hand E200 model, which the government garage provided.
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Zille's spokesperson Robert Macdonald said yesterday that Zille has now requested a more fuel-efficient model after also learning that the Mercedes is not owned by the government garage, but is being hired.
Newly-elected Mayor of the Winelands District Municipality, Badih Chaaban, yesterday offered surprise support for Zille's "austerity" measures.
"Yes, I will take Zille's lead. We will not be buying a new mayoral vehicle," Chaaban, who is not a DA member, said.
He said he was driven in a second-hand Mercedes ML320, which would not be replaced.
"But I like to drive, so most of the time I'm in my own car."
He said he and senior council leaders would only fly in economy class, and stay in four-star, not five-star, hotels.
"We're not in the habit of lavish spending," he said.
The City of Cape Town has confirmed that Mayor Dan Plato has chosen to retain the modest Toyota Prius he inherited from Zille. The DA wants government ministers to be restricted to vehicles valued at 50 percent of their salaries.
"Should a member wish to buy a more expensive car, he or she should use their salary to pay for it," the DA said.
Zille, however,believes even leaner rules should be put in place. Responding to written questions from the Cape Argus, she said ministers should only be entitled to "the cost of a modest, environmentally friendly vehicle".
Asked whether ministers required "status" vehicles, she replied: "What have cars got to do with status? This perception is part of the problem. One needs safety, reliability and comfort in a car - not status. A decent car helps one work while travelling, so it adds value in this way, but status should not enter into it."
Communications Minister Siphiwe Nyanda recently ordered two BMW 750is, together valued at R2 420 400, and Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga ordered a BMW and a Range Rover together costing R1 705 092.
Ministers' lavish car allowances will be reconsidered as a part of a review of government spending, Minister in the Presidency Collins Chabane said yesterday.
Briefing the media after the fortnightly cabinet meeting, Chabane said a task team consisting of himself, Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan and Minister of Public Service and Administration Richard Baloyi would "advise Cabinet on how matters of this nature can be handled".
- This article was originally published on page 5 of Cape Argus on July 31, 2009
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