Defence department buys luxury vehicles

By Khanyisa Tabata
11 April 2010

The Democratic Alliance has revealed that the Defence Department is in the process of acquiring eight new luxury vehicles, at a combined value of up to seven-million-Rands.

According to the DA’s David Maynier, this will mean that government has spent more than 50-million-Rands on purchasing luxury vehicles.

Maynier says the Defence Department’s acquisition of four Mercedes-Benz sedans and three 23-seater buses is puzzling in the light of its complaints that defence spending is too low to properly pay soldiers, maintain bases and operate equipment.

“This means that between R3.9 million and R7 million is about to be spent on a brand new fleet of luxury vehicles, most probably for use by VIPs.

“The defence department complains that defence spending is too low to properly pay soldiers, maintain bases and operate equipment, and yet it is spending between R3.9 million and R7 million on a fleet of luxury vehicles,” said Maynier.

Maynier added by saying the DA therefore calls on Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Lindiwe Sisulu, to stop the deal to splurge between R3.9 million and R7million on acquiring a fleet of eight new luxury Mercedes-Benz vehicles for the defence department. The fact is that the defence department should be spending money on "bang" - not on "bling".