While many in the province suffer severe poverty, the provincial government is spending money as if there is no tomorrow.
The DA in Gauteng has called on the Provincial Legislature to institute austerity measures following a R30 million increase to R115,9 million in its spending on travel, accommodation, catering and gifts in the 2012/13 financial year.
This information was revealed in the Legislature’s Annual Report for 2012/13. The Legislature has the important task of democratic representation and public participation, but certain spending appears to be unnecessary and excessive.
The Legislature spent R2,6 million on gift, and its domestic travel bill amounts to over R50 million, including massive spending of R22 million on car allowances despite a R15 million shuttle services bill.
Workshops, functions, conferences and catering account for almost R30 million and international air travel and subsistence racked up a R16 million bill.
“The Legislature should not spend extravagantly when large numbers of people in Gauteng live in poverty.The DA will push for cost-saving measures in the remainder of this year’s Legislature budget, and the removal of all unnecessary expenditure in next year’s budget,” says the DA’s spokesperson for Finance, Mike Moriarty.
