National Planning Minister Trevor Manuel’s R1.2m car purchase took the total bill for ministerial vehicles to R42.6m, the DA said on Tuesday.

Quoting Manuel from his days as finance minister when he urged for a “greater sense of responsibility” in spending habits, the DA described the purchase as “completely contrary” to his past statements.

“In short, Mr Manuel’s acquisition is inappropriate, exorbitant, and completely contrary to his repeated calls for austerity in these troubling economic times…

“It goes without saying that… instilling a ‘greater sense of responsibility’ into the ‘ethos of government’ doesn’t exactly square off with spending R1.2m on a BMW 7 Series – or, indeed, forking out R100 000 in unnecessary accessories.”

‘Extensions of ministers’ egos’

The DA said it would now submit another question to get more details on the accessories.

Purchases of expensive vehicles were not “tools to help the ministers do their jobs” but rather “extensions of the ministers’ egos”.

“This acquisition brings the total bill for ministerial vehicles to R42 612 406 and ministerial vehicle accessories have now cost the taxpayer R839 571.

“We will add these to our Wasteful Expenditure Monitor, and we will continue to urge Cabinet to adopt the austerity measures that were proposed to Vusi Mavimbela, director-general in the presidency back in July, and which still have not been acted upon outside of the Western Cape,” said the DA.

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