Premier must answer for credit card use

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Gauteng Premier Nomvula Mokonyane. Photo: Sharon Seretlo

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Gauteng - Gauteng premier Nomvula Mokonyane must account for her alleged abuse of state credit cards, the DA said on Tuesday.

Democratic Alliance leader Jack Bloom said Mokonyane should answer to the public about why she used her official credit card to dine at expensive restaurants at taxpayers' expense, as was reported in Beeld newspaper.

“The DA proposes that all government credit cards be abolished, as is the case in DA-run Western Cape.”

He said the DA had repeatedly requested details of credit card expenditure, but had received only vague replies.

Beeld reported on Tuesday that it had brought a high court application to gain access to Mokonyane's credit card statements under the Promotion of Access to Information Act.

It reported that, according to the statements, Mokonyane had dined in local and international restaurants, paying up to R16 000

for a single “dinner meeting”.

In October 2011, she reportedly spent R2 585 at the Salvatore Ferragamo luxury leather goods boutique during a trip to Milan.

Beeld reported that infrastructure development MEC Qedani Mahlangu spent R7 309 at a leather goods boutique in Istanbul.

Finance MEC Mandla Nkomfe reportedly spent more than R160 000 in one year, primarily on entertainment, fuel and car maintenance, even though his annual package includes a car allowance.

The premier earns R1.88 million a year, and an MEC R1.65m.

According to the newspaper, the provincial legislature's integrity commissioner Dr Ralph Mgijima recommended in 2012 that the ministerial handbook should be edited to clarify any ambiguity about the use of official credit cards.

“If it were up to me, I would ban all personal purchases on credit cards.... Actually I think it's a good idea to abolish credit cards entirely,” he said. - Sapa