By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Public Works Minister Sihle Zikalala says efforts have begun to curb spending on the refurbishments and maintenance at government-owned facilities.
Zikalala appointed a three-member panel of senior legal practitioners and experts to investigate public representatives’ procurement practices for the maintenance of their homes.
Between 2019 and last year, the department spent about R93 million on municipal services and to maintain ministers, their deputies and directors-general’s official residences.
Lavish spending on ministerial properties in Cape Town and Pretoria raised eyebrows recently.
It was revealed that a kitchen was refurbished to the tune of R1.4 million, curtains valued at over R50 000 were purchased and fumigation costs rose to R240 000.
Zikalala says he wants to know why these costs were so high.
“That is why we have established an investigation by an independent team that will help us to get to the bottom of this issue.
“But all procurements that have been conducted in this past year should be investigated in the same manner because this indicated that it is possible that there were irregularities or even fraud conducted in this regard.”
The FF Plus’ Philip van Staden welcomed Zikalala’s subsequent announcement that there would be an investigation into the spending.
“These expenses are not a new occurrence, and we can no longer allow it to continue,” Van Staden said.
“While South Africans are suffering without electricity, the lights are burning at these residences in Pretoria and Cape Town. While our hospitals are suffering due to the fact that infrastructure is collapsing, these huge amounts are spent at our official residences.
“While the maintenance of our government buildings is not given the necessary attention, and where this department suffers a huge loss of revenue due to this problem, these huge amounts are spent on official residences.