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Trevor Manuel splurges R1,2m on BMW 7 series - DA
Cargate: Manuel's R1.2 million ego trip
Eight months ago Trevor Manuel delivered his final budget speech as Finance Minister. In it, he summed up the responsibilities of government officials in the following words:
"Budgeting is not only about expanding expenditure on constructive and necessary activities, it is also about rooting out waste, promoting cost-efficiency and phasing out ineffective programmes... A greater sense of responsibility needs to permeate the ethos of government all the way through the accountability chain... Our resolve will be tested to its limits. We have to put self-interest aside, we have to face each other honestly and openly."
More recently, in his Green Paper on National Strategic Planning, he stated the following:
"[G]overnment will not shirk its responsibility to lead, especially in crystallising government's strategic posture."
It goes without saying that rooting out waste, setting aside selfish intentions, and instilling a "greater sense of responsibility" into the "ethos of government" don't exactly square off with spending R1.2-million on a BMW 7 Series - or, indeed, forking out R100,000 in unnecessary accessories. And certainly, given the President's pledge to ensure that government would "cut our cloth according to our size", it is difficult to see how such a purchase would contribute to "crystallising government's strategic posture".
In short, Mr. Manuel's acquisition is inappropriate, exorbitant, and completely contrary to his repeated calls for austerity in these troubling economic times.
We will now submit a follow up parliamentary question to determine exactly what Mr. Manuel was referring to by "standard manufacturer's extras", as the Minister's response to this section of the question was clearly evasive. Deputy Police Minister Fikile Mbalula recently spent R83,879.00 on accessories for two vehicles, and managed to purchase for that amount an array of completely unnecessary items, including a multi-contour seat package, ceramic surround controls, ambient interior lighting, adaptive headlights, high beam assist, lane change and departure warnings, a rear view camera, a media interface, privacy glass, and an exterior spare wheel carrier.
Presumably, then, Mr. Manuel's R99,200.00 goes well beyond what one might reasonably deem a "standard extra". Indeed, this is an enormous amount to waste on unnecessary additional items. Spending so much money on extras reveals the true motivation for these extravagant purchases -- they are not tools to help the ministers do their jobs, they are extensions of the ministers' egos.
This acquisition brings the total bill for ministerial vehicles to R42,612,406.00, and ministerial vehicle accessories have now cost the taxpayer R839,571.00. We will add these to our Wasteful Expenditure Monitor, and we will continue to urge cabinet to adopt the austerity measures that were proposed to Vusi Mavimbela, Director-General in the Presidency back in July, and which still have not been acted upon outside of the Western Cape .
Statement issued by Lindiwe Mazibuko, MP, Democratic Alliance national spokesperson, October 9 2009
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Comments
Surely DA can be more creative than this cheap politics! It has to rise up to the challenges facing this country rather snooping around who bought the car for how much. Please surely can find another "scandal" this is now very boring, thank you very . .more
by Percy on October 13 2009, 10:53
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The tax of 37 SA taxpayers has gone to paying for this fancy set of wheels for Manuel - I'm sure that gives these people a warm fuzzy feeling inside when they see Manuel cruising by in the lap of luxury. Nothing like seeing your hard earned tax money . .more
by Sad days on October 13 2009, 10:54
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...and now he has proven it. So what if the previous car was out of motorplan. BMW has got extended motorplan packages and there are cheaper than buying a new car. I mean really! Trevor, your explanation is as lame as the duck you have become since . .more
by Eddy on October 13 2009, 11:21
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Did you beat your wife up last Saturday night?
by jack on October 13 2009, 14:39
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Thought the man had more integrity than this. I was wrong.
by Reitz on October 13 2009, 14:56
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Percy, can you motivate this type of expenditure?
by JACK on October 13 2009, 15:14
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Thanx DA for exposing these people. That is why we need strong opposition. I wish the voters can be wise enough and see these people the way they mess up our country. South Africans let us wake up before it is too late.
by pakiso on October 13 2009, 15:52
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Mnr Minister: You have disappointed us. Who more than yourself with your understanding of budgeting and excessive expenditures would not see the light of corrupt exploitation at the expense of the people.
You, along with your wife, make how . .more
by sirjay jonson on October 13 2009, 20:00
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Frankly I think Percy you are talking rubbish. You are such a drunk party loyalist that you even lost a simple objective mind. For your information it is out hard earned money that these "Polokwane" thugs are wasting. It is our money for god's sake - so . .more
by Mfetu on October 14 2009, 09:26
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These whips are in line with them posions - Scream y'll be heard
by Phuqhue on October 14 2009, 16:31
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