Cabinet ministers spent R11.8m on 13 new luxury vehicles – report

Despite the country facing tough economic times, ministers in President Jacob Zuma’s Cabinet have reportedly splurged a total of R11.8 million buying 13 top-of-the-range vehicles in the past six months, according to a report.

The Sunday Times reports that the Department of Public Works was the worst culprit to have ignored former finance minister Pravin Gordhan’s belt-tightening measures.

The department reportedly bought a Mercedes-Benz GLE 350D and Toyota Land Cruiser 200 at R1.228 million and R1.264 million respectively, for use by minister Nathi Nhleko and his deputy, Jeremy Cronin.

Other ministers who bought new wheels were Public Service and Administration Minister   Faith Muthambi and Deputy Communications Minister Tandi Mahambehlala, as well as Transport Minister Joe Maswanganyi and his deputy, Sindi Chikunga.

National Freedom Party (NPF) leader and deputy minister of science and technology, Zanele Magwaza-Msibi, reportedly got a new Audi Q7, which cost R1 million.

When the paper approached National Treasury regarding spending on the new luxury cars, the department’s spokesperson Mayihlome Tshwete said no caps on the cost of new ministerial cars currently existed because none had been passed by the current Cabinet yet.

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