New Handbook will cut corruption in Gauteng
2 May 2014
Note to editors: The following remarks were delivered at a press conference in Johannesburg today to launch the DA's proposed Ministerial Handbook for Gauteng.
Today the DA unveils a new Ministerial Handbook for Gauteng.
The Handbook will cut out all luxuries and abuse of public funds that have been the hallmark of Premier Nomvula Mokonyane's term office.
One of our first acts in provincial government will be to pass this new Handbook in line with our policy to cut corruption and create jobs in Gauteng.
The new Handbook is part of a broader strategy to end the abuse that causes R6 billion of public funds to be lost to wasteful and irregular expenditure every year in Gauteng.
Further measures include opening tender adjudication committees to the public, passing a law to prevent civil servants from doing business in the state, and a strict policy of not allowing anyone convicted of corruption to hold public office. With this new Handbook we will:
- Ban government credit cards
- Ban the use of 5 star hotels for overnight stays
- Ban all cabinet members from involvement in entities doing business with the state
- Slash the allowed cost of Official Vehicles from 70% to 40% of a Member's salary
- Limit flights less than 8 hours to economy class for all Members
- Limit all car rentals to D class vehicles
- Implement strict provisions for basic security upgrades
Under Premier Mokonyane and, of course President Jacob Zuma, we have seen the immense abuse of state resources that will not be allowed under a DA government.
During Premier Mokonyane's term of office we have seen abuse driven from the very top of this administration:
R1.2 million was spent on new furniture for the official premier's residence in Bryanston and R574 000 on repairs to the swimming pool.
R238 000 was spent on hired cars over the last 3 years. In 2011, R91 414 was spent on 12 luxury vehicles over 44 days; R94 885 in 2012 for 12 luxury vehicles over 30 days; and R48 292 for 5 vehicles over 19 days. The most expensive trip was for R14 700 for a Mercedes S350 which she used for just 2 days in March 2012. [All info from our PAIA request dated Feb 2014]
The Premier purchased the luxury R1.3 million Mercedes ML63 as her Official Vehicle [this pricetag was at the very upper limit of the 70% of the salary the ANC handbook allows vehicles to be purchased at. Premier Mokonyane's salary in 2012 was R1.8 million]
Premier Mokonyane was let off the hook by the legislature's Ethics Committee for misspending R105 614 on her state credit card - including splashing out at a leather boutique in Italy
The DA has already implemented a new Handbook where we govern and we will do the same in Gauteng as a first order of business.
Our commitment is to return the R6 billion wasted annually in Gauteng to programmes that create jobs and deliver services.
Statement issued by Mmusi Maimane, DA Gauteng Premier Candidate, May 2 2014
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