Gauteng MEC for Local Government and Housing Humphrey Mmemezi used his government credit card to make an overnight booking in a hotel in Krugersdorp – less than 5km from his own home.
Mmemezi booked into the Cedar Lodge on January 17 and used his official credit card to foot the bill.
He made similar bookings at hotels in Joburg, Midrand and Pretoria – despite these hotels being only a few kilometres away from his house and that, due to his designation, he is chauffeur-driven.
These are some of the details contained in statements of the official credit card awarded to Mmemezi by the department since he became its political boss in November 2010.
On December 31, 2010 – when all the Gauteng Provincial Legislature’s politicians, including Premier Nomvula Mokonyane, went on Christmas and New Year’s recess – Mmemezi spent the night at the Ermelo Inn in Mpumalanga. The Gauteng government paid R2 224.00 for his stay.
Earlier that month, on December 4, Mmemezi was booked in at the Landmark Lodge in Midrand and the government paid R1 196.00 for the night. Then on March 22 last year, Mmemezi booked into the Protea Hotel Capital in Pretoria and the government footed his bill of R430. He had earlier spent the day at Krugersdorp’s President Hyper purchasing groceries worth R3 317.25. He visited the same shop again on April 16 and purchased groceries – this time worth R3 419.65
On May 18 last year, he booked himself into room 629 at the Garden Court Milpark in Joburg. He booked out the next day and paid R977.29. During the same period, Mmemezi booked in at various other hotels in Durban, the Free State and in the Eastern Cape.
The Cedar Lodge stay cost R400. But it was the local hotel bookings that got the DA’s Fred Nel worried.
Nel, the DA spokesman on local government and housing, said Mmemezi was provided with a full-time driver and bodyguards whose duties was to ensure his safe arrival at his home.
Nel asked Mmemezi to provide him a breakdown of his hotel stays in 2011. In a written reply, Mmemezi said he had spent 47 nights in hotels, but failed to provide a cumulative amount for these stays or the requested breakdown. He claimed he also paid for his bodyguards, despite the fact that the VIP protectors were the responsibility of the SAPS.
Mmemezi on Tuesday night failed to respond to The Star’s enquiries, which called on him to provide reasons for using hotels that were situated near his home.
Despite refusing to answer The Star, Mmemezi has admitted to the DA that he used the credit card to buy an artwork worth R10 000 from McDonald’s in Silverton, Tshwane, on October 12 last year. He said he was asked to do so by the artist.
Mmemezi claims that he donated the artwork to his department.
Meanwhile, the DA has made another call to Mokonyane to fire Mmemezi for allegedly abusing his official credit card.
“Mmemezi has been involved in other controversies, including his official vehicle injuring teenager Thomas Ferreira while driving with blue lights, and he damaged another vehicle a week later in KwaZulu-Natal, which insurance has reportedly refused to pay for.
“His contemptuous behaviour should not be allowed to continue. A full investigation is needed so that he is held to account for all misspending and contravention of rules.
“Premier Nomvula Mokonyane must put aside internal ANC politics and fire him in the interests of good governance,” Nel said.
In her reaction, Mokonyane’s spokesman, Xoli Mngambi, said the premier had noted media reports pertaining to the MEC for local government and housing.
“These included damage to a government vehicle and the alleged misuse of a government credit card.
“The premier views these allegations in a serious light and has therefore requested a formal response from the MEC.
“Upon receipt of a formal reply from the MEC, the premier will apply her mind and make a determination,” Mngambi said.
The Star