Almost R750m spent on MPs’ housing over the past 10 years

The three parliamentary villages, its upkeep and transport have cost South Africa almost three quarters of a billion rand over the two previous parliamentary terms.

In a reply to a written Parliamentary question on Monday, Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Patricia de Lille revealed that the total cost incurred by the government for the three parliamentary villages during the terms of the Fourth and Fifth Parliaments – from 2009 to 2019 – is R743 788 400.04.

The parliamentary villages house MPs in Cape Town when they attend committee meetings and sittings within the parliamentary precinct during the year.

The costs in De Lille’s reply includes bus transport, water and electricity, rates and taxes, village management, construction of new buildings, maintenance of buildings, purchasing of new furniture and appliances, and any other expenses.

The question was asked by DA MP Willem Faber, who also wanted to know whether De Lille has considered providing each MP with a housing allowance instead of accommodation.

“The responsibility of the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure is to provide accommodation to Government Departments and Members of Parliament, amongst others, in terms of its mandate. Any request for allowances to public office bearers must be made to the Independent Commission for Remuneration of Public Office Bearers,” read De Lille’s response.

Transport

According to the reply, the total cost incurred by the government for all three parliamentary villages – Acacia Park, Pelican Park and Laboria Park – for transport was R38 570 345 for the Fourth Parliament (2009 – 2014) and R35 997 143 for the Fifth (2014 – 2019).

Municipal services

The total cost in terms of the municipal services and rates of the three parliamentary villages during the Fourth Parliament were as follows:

Laboria Park: R7 875 171.81

Pelican Park: R6 470 925.33

Acacia Park: R12 836 995.19

For the Fifth Parliament, it was:

Laboria Park: R12 185 225.49

Pelican Park: R22 328 442.08

Acacia Park: R50 959 085.40

Employment of officials

“The parliamentary villages are managed by the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure through officials who are employed full-time and render the required services,” read De Lille’s reply.

For the Fourth Parliament, the cost relating to the employment of the officials amounted to R8 053 472.75 and for the Fifth Parliament, it was R13 102 467.25

New access buildings

During the Fifth Parliament’s term, the building of new access buildings at the three parliamentary villages amounted to R35 550 947.07.

Maintenance

The maintenance of the buildings took the largest chunk over the 10 years.

For the Fourth Parliament, De Lille provided the figure of R300 000 000, and for the Fifth, the three villages combined cost R162 454 497.67.

New furniture and appliances

During the Fourth Parliament’s term, the government spent R6 422 237 on new furniture and appliances, while this figure was almost five times more for the Fifth Parliament, which amounted to R30 981 445.

In another question, Faber asked De Lille “whether her department intends transferring the village to the City of Cape Town for housing development purposes since it already has an operating school, pre-school and sport and recreation facilities”.

“Acacia Park is currently used by members of Parliament and Sessional officials,” De Lille answered.

Houses and facilities

During the Fifth Parliament, Acacia Park housed 226 Members of Parliament, 259 Sessional Officials, one departmental official performing standby duties, four assistants to MPs and two parliament staff members.

Laboria Park housed 56 MPs, six sessional officials and two departmental official performing standby duties.

Pelican Park housed 71 MPs, 35 sessional officials and one departmental official.

Acacia Park has 337 housing units, 155 apartments and facility buildings comprising a primary school, crèche, soccer/rugby field, three recreational halls, tennis court, swimming pool and a gym facility.

Laboria Park has 64 housing units and facility buildings comprising a recreational hall with a gym facility, tennis court and swimming pool.

Pelican Park has 107 housing units and a facility building comprising a recreational hall with a gym facility, tennis court and swimming pool.

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