B Nel on travel claims by Eastern Cape MECs

26 January 2006

The Eastern Cape MEC for Finance, Mr Billy Nel, has recommended that an
investigation be done into travel costs.

According to the rules of the Ministerial Handbook, the respective
departments must carry the financial implications in terms of procuring and
ensuring official vehicles. Departments have to ensure that the necessary funds
are available in their Medium Term Expenditure Framework allocations.

Treasury officials will be tasked to source the necessary logbooks and
travel claims for the various departments, in order to do a proper
investigation. “Once we have a report, a recommendation can be made to the
Executive Council, if it proves necessary,” Nel said.

According to the Ministerial Handbook, departments may purchase vehicles
directly from manufacturers and or their dealerships in accordance with the
member’s choice. Members may also choose to make use of their private vehicles
instead of government-owned official vehicles. A log book of all distances
travelled should be kept in this regard. (See Chapter 5 – Ministerial
Handbook).

It must be noted that the Ministerial Handbook is a guideline for benefits
and privileges, to which Members of the Executive, Presiding Officers and
members of their families are entitled in the execution of their duties. All
staff members providing support services to the portfolios are expected to
acquaint themselves with the provisions contained in these guidelines.

Regarding claims by MECs for the use of their private vehicles, 500
kilometres is automatically subtracted from the total claimable mileage over
and above the non-claimable mileage (private use) which is also recorded in the
log book, to compensate for instances when the vehicle may be used for private
business.

“Urgent meetings in far areas, like Kokstad and Matatiele regarding cross
border issues have a travelling time of 12 hours plus. MECs from KwaZulu-Natal
make use of helicopters when under pressure. The Eastern Cape MECs go by car,
covering in excess of 1 000 kilometres for a meeting in one day – rising at
three am to return at ten pm. “The kilometres travelled are a direct indication
of the nature of our work – the dedication to deliver services to the province,
and the commitment that the MECs have to their portfolios.

“If the distances travelled therefore were substantially lower, it would
mean that we are not covering the whole province adequately and subsequently
neglecting a significant part of the electorate – which would ultimately affect
the poorest of the poor in our remote areas. “Sensational outbursts without
checking the actual facts are misleading the public and not in the interests of
fair and accurate reporting.

“In this regard I would like to put it on record that if I had been given
the opportunity to respond to the initial media enquiries on Tuesday afternoon
(25 January 2005) and to at least source the proper file and add up the
figures, the misrepresentation around the actual mileage travelled by myself
could have been avoided.

“For the period in question – October 2004 to October 2005 – my total
mileage travelled was 77 306 (average of 5 946 per month) kilometres of which a
total of 65 943 (average of 5 072 per month) was claimable. I can assure the
public that the claims have been in strict accordance to the Ministerial
Handbook and guidelines, which are set at national level. The log books are
available on request, and there is nothing sinister about travel claims.

“Any wild outbursts and “speculation” on statistics and facts are very
dangerous and detrimental to good governance in the province.” One can only
speculate that there is a hidden agenda by certain individuals if due caution
is not exercised and statistics not verified by these individuals. One could
also speculate on the timing of some media reports.

“The time of MECs is extremely valuable and I request that the taxpayer
understand the mandate of the governing party and the responsibilities and
workload of the cabinet in order to make a difference.”

Enquiries: Cecile Greyling
Media Liaison Officer
Cell: 082 450 5298

Issued by: Department of Finance, Eastern Cape Provincial Government
26 January 2006
Source: Eastern Cape Provincial Government (http://www.ectreasury.gov.za/)