Pretoria: The Minister for Public Service and Administration Richard Baloyi has noted with great concern persistence by opposition Members of Parliament (MPs) in posing questions on official ministerial vehicles despite repeated clarification on the matter by Cabinet as well as the Task Team dealing with the matter.
Minister Baloyi would like to restate government's position by emphasising that as an employer, government determines the conditions of employment including the provision of necessary tools for members of the executive to do their work.
"As government we would like to reiterate that official vehicles are not the personal belongings of the members. They are and remain the property of the state provided to Ministers as tools to execute their functions."
"Chapter 5 of the Ministerial Handbook for Members of the Executive and Presiding Officers stipulates that members at national level may be provided with one vehicle for use in Pretoria and one vehicle for use in Cape Town. The total purchase price of the vehicle chosen may not exceed 70 percent of the member's annual remuneration package."
Minister Baloyi has been tasked by Cabinet to deal with all queries relating to official vehicles for Political Office Bearers. He has urged MPs to understand that Members of the Executive "have not broken any rules and that the official vehicles, which belong to the state, have been acquired for them by their departments in strict compliance with the regulations as contained in the Ministerial Handbook."
The Minister also stressed government's sensitivity on the matter and said measures aimed at fiscal prudence are being enforced at various levels of government.
For further information, contact:
Dumisani Nkwambaat
Tel: 012 336 1704
Cell: 082 885 9448
Issued by: Department of Public Service and Administration
10 December 2009
