On 30 June the Democratic Alliance (DA) submitted a written question to every national minister asking whether or not their respective departments had purchased a new ministerial vehicle or vehicles. That question was submitted to a total of 35 departments. To date, some 60 days or two months later, only half (or 18) of the 35 departments have responded.
The 17 members of the executive who have failed to respond to date are:
1. |
President |
2. |
Arts and Culture --> |
3. |
Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs |
4. |
Health --> |
5. |
Higher Education and Training |
6. |
Human Settlements --> |
7. |
International Relations and Cooperation |
8. |
Justice and Constitutional Development --> |
9. |
Labour |
10. |
Police |
11. |
Public Enterprises |
12. |
Science and Technology |
13. |
Minister in the Presidency: National Planning Commission |
14. |
Minister in the Presidency: Performance Monitoring Evaluation and Administration |
15. |
Tourism |
16. |
Transport |
17. |
Water and Environmental Affairs |
There can be only one of two possible reasons for not responding, and both are equally problematic:
First, these departments are too disorganised to be able to properly determine whether or not they purchased a new vehicle. Certainly one would think a period of two months is time enough to establish such a simple fact. Indeed, quite how they are unable to do so boggles the mind.
Or
Second, these Ministers have purchased a new ministerial vehicle at great expense to the taxpayer but, given the public climate at present - one created in large part by the exorbitant purchases made by some of their colleagues - they are waiting for things to die down before responding. (No doubt, in the hope that their purchase will slip under the radar.)
If the former explanation holds true, it is an indictment of these department's internal systems, administration and management; if the latter holds true, it is an indictment of their attitude to the Constitutional principle that the legislature oversee the work of the executive in general, and the parliamentary mechanism of written questions, in particular.
Both constitute a certain level of disdain for the public.
The full list of ministers who have responded thus far and the date on which they responded - from the earliest response to the latest - follows below. It is difficult to understand how some departments were able to respond within ten days while others are still battling to compile the requisite information.
The DA will continue to monitor this issue and apply pressure to those ministers who are trying to avoid answering what might well prove to be a difficult question.
Department |
Date Answered |
Response |
Trade and Industry |
7 July |
No vehicle bought. |
State Security |
8 July |
No vehicle bought. |
Communications |
16 July |
Cape Town: BMW 750i. 2009 model. (R1 135 500.00) Plus extras (R12 100.00) Total: R1 147 600.00 (R1 135 500.00) Plus extras (R136 300.00) Total: R1 271 800.00 |
Defence and Military Veterans |
16 July |
No vehicle bought. |
Mining |
17 July |
No vehicle bought. |
Public Works |
17 July |
No vehicle bought. |
Economic Development |
17 July |
No vehicle bought. |
Sports and Recreation |
21 July |
No vehicle bought. |
Basic Education |
21 July |
Cape Town: BMW 730D. (R894 500.00) (R807 000.00) |
Public Service and Administration |
21 July |
No vehicle bought. |
Finance |
24 July |
Cape Town: Audi A6 3.0T. (R590 500.00) Plus extras (R22 933.35) Total: R613 433.35 Total: R578 179.31 |
Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries |
28 July |
2009 Mercedes Benz S350. 2009 model. (R780 253) Plus extras (R15 750) Total: R796 003 |
Rural Development |
28 July |
No vehicle bought yet. |
Home Affairs |
30 July |
No vehicle bought |
Correctional Services |
12 August |
No vehicle bought. |
Social Development |
24 August |
No vehicle bought yet. In the process of procuring a new vehicle |
Women, Youth, Children and People with Disabilities |
24 August |
Pretoria: Range Rover |
Energy |
26 August |
No vehicle bought. |
Statement issued by Mike Ellis, MP, Democratic Alliance deputy chief whip, August 31 2009
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