Durban - The eThekwini Municipality has spent close to R5 million over the past two years on breakfast and lunch for its 205 councillors during their weekly and monthly meetings.
The figure, which covers full council meetings, committee meetings and meetings of the executive council, was confirmed by Speaker Logie Naidoo, who was responding to formal questions from DA chief whip Sharon Hoosen.
Naidoo said R2.5 million and R2.1 million had been spent on meals in the 2013/14 and 2014/15 financial years, respectively.
The Mercury previously reported that the city spent R1.2 million on catering in the 2012/13 financial year.
An ordinary eThekwini councillor gets an annual package of about R430 000, a cellphone and a car allowance.
The splurging on food continued in the municipality despite an order by the provincial Treasury six years ago that all government departments and municipalities must cut costs.
Asked how much the city had spent on catering costs for party caucus meetings, Naidoo said: “As far as I am aware, we do not cater for party caucuses.”
Hoosen had requested the information in the light of the recent government directive for belt-tightening measures.
The city provides breakfast and lunch for its weekly executive committee meeting, the various monthly portfolio meetings and full council meetings.
Approached for comment later, Hoosen said the expenditure was “unacceptable’.
“With the city having such poverty-stricken people who go to bed without food, this money could have contributed to avoiding this,” she said.
She said councillors received substantial salaries and could afford to buy their own meals.
“Council should rather open a canteen. For us to get free food at meetings is really unacceptable.
“R5 million could have been contributed towards building more houses for people or trying to uplift communities, “said Hoosen.