NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION 1455

DATE OF PUBLICATION: FRIDAY 03 JUNE 2011 [IQP No 14 -2011] SECOND SESSION, FOURTH PARLIAMENT

1455 Mr I M Ollis (DA) to ask the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries:

a) On how many occasions since 1 March 2010 did her office hire a vehicle to transport (i) her and (ii) her Deputy Minister and (b) in each case, (i) what was the cost of hiring the vehicle, (ii) for what reason was the vehicle hired, (iii) for how many days, (iv) what (aa) make and (bb) model of vehicle was hired and (v) what total distance was travelled? NW1622E

REPLY:

The Ministerial Handbook Chapter 5 on Official vehicles states that "Members at a national level may be provided with one vehicle for use in Cape Town and one vehicle for use in Pretoria". It further provides for "Use of Incidental Vehicles for official purposes away from respected seats of office". Members are allowed to make use of incidental or rented vehicles when on official duty. The rented vehicles should be vehicles befitting for Ministerial use and in these instances the vehicles hired have been various makes and models of Group "G" vehicles.

In such cases the Handbook allows the cost of incidental / rented vehicles for official use to be borne by the relevant department.

These hired cars are used on official duty for direct interaction with communities and stakeholders outside Gauteng and Cape Town as a critical part of the Public Participation programmes of Ministers. These enable Ministers to fulfil their duties and meet their ever demanding schedules.

The department has hired 23 cars during the time under review.

The cost has been R837 621-19

The total distance travelled has been 30 743km

Issued by Parliament, September 2 2011

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