COPE support the call for ministers to return expensive vehicles

By Ofentse Mokae
09 September 2009

The Congress of the People says it supports the call by trade union federation Cosatu for ministers who have bought luxury vehicles, to return these cars immediately.

It says these cars, some in excess of one-million-rands, should be replaced with vehicles more appropriate to the country’s economic situation.

Cope president Mosiuoa Lekota says many people live in poverty and squalor and are delivered poor services by the departments these ministers lead.

Meanwhile, the Communist Party and Cosatu have dismissed reports of a rift between them stemming from the trade union federation’s views on the procurement of ministerial vehicles.

Cosatu and the SACP say the strength of their relationship allows for open engagement and the holding of different views from time to time.

Cosatu says it is awaiting a Cabinet response regarding the vehicles.

The ministers who bought expesive vehicles when arriving in office include Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson who spent R800,000 a luxury 2009 Mercedes-Benz.

The vehicle cost just over R780,000, while additional extras – a black wooden leather steering wheel and rear window sunblinds – bring the total cost of the vehicle to R796,003.00.

This vehicle cost just R13,500 less than Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga’s Range Rover Sport, and is in a price bracket that the DA believes is excessive, particularly given the severity of the economic downturn and the promises by President Zuma, Finance Minister Gordhan and others to tone down government excess and cut wasteful spending.

Communications minister Siphiwe Nyanda spent more than R1-million each for his two BMW 750i, 2009 models, one for Cape Town and another for Pretoria.

The kind of expenditure stands in stark contrast with President Zuma’s statement during his State of the Nation address that every cent must be spent wisely and fruitfully.