Johannesburg - The Gauteng premier’s official multimillion-rand residence in Bryanston, Sandton, is likely to go on sale, while politicians will be barred from driving cars worth more than R1 million.
Gauteng Premier David Makhura said this on Tuesday when reacting to the DA’s accusations that he had approved R2.1m to convert his official residence into a “conference centre”.
The DA’s Jack Bloom wanted to know when Makhura’s executive council took a decision to use the house for “official business government engagement”.
Bloom asked: “What feasibility study was done on the need and viability of converting and using his house for ‘official government business engagement’?
“If so, on what date were the findings made known, and if no feasibility study was done, on what basis was a decision to do building alterations taken within such a short time?”
Makhura dismissed claims in a Sunday paper that formed the basis of Bloom’s questions.
He confirmed that work was done on the house, but said it was routine maintenance.
His executive council had agreed to use the house for government business because he preferred to live in his private home.
The premier said he had made his intention clear during his first provincial executive council meeting on May 28.
“I also emphasised that the executive council will need to make time to have a detailed discussion on cost-cutting measures that will save the government money. The executive council subsequently held detailed discussions on cost-containment and cost-cutting measures across the entire provincial government and its agencies.
“Further measures are being undertaken to ensure that we cut government wastage and redirect resources to fund the priorities contained in our programme for radical transformation, modernisation and reindustrialisation of Gauteng,” Makhura said.
He said the government was auditing all state property portfolios to assess whether it derived value from them.
Makhura was quick to point out that the official residence was also undergoing the audit.
He said government property, including his residence, could be put on sale, depending on the audit outcome.
“The ultimate fate of the official residence will be considered as part of this review of the property portfolio of the Gauteng provincial government. We will not be rushed to take an uninformed decision.”
Makhura said cost cutting would also affect the choice of vehicles for official use by government executives and senior officials.
The Star