The Minister for the Public Service and Administration, Mr Richard Baloyi has provided a written response to the Parliamentary question on the costs and reasons for Ministerial vehicle hire.
In the response, Minister Baloyi has noted that he had made use of hired vehicles on 21 occasions since March 2010 at a cost of R357 483.56. The vehicles had to be hired during the reporting period because Minister Baloyi was executing official duties in other provinces and not in Pretoria and Cape Town where the Minister utilises his official vehicles. The Minister also revealed he had used a rented vehicle in June 2010 and March 2011 when his official vehicle had been involved in an accident.
Minister Baloyi revealed that Deputy Minister, Ayanda Dlodlo had used hired vehicles on 18 occasions since November 2010 at a cost of R204 744.24. The vehicles had to be hired during the reporting period because the Deputy Minister was without an official permanent vehicle and thus had to rely on hired vehicles with her official vehicle only procured in March 2011.
Former Deputy Minister, Roy Padayachie had on 48 occasions from 1 March 2010 to 31 October 2010 used 48 hired vehicles at a cost of R1 242 084.54. The reason for this rental cost was that when Deputy Minister Padayachie joined the portfolio in May 2009, he had to leave behind his official vehicle at the Department of Communications.
Former Deputy Minister Padayachie could not immediately purchase another official vehicle as there were no funds available due to the fact that the position of Deputy Minister never existed in the Portfolio. The Department of Public Service and Administration therefore had to rent a vehicle on his behalf. It should be noted that hiring of vehicles is budgeted for under the travel and subsistence policy whereas purchasing of vehicles is a capital expenditure which could only be done through the medium term budget review.
During his entire tenure with the portfolio, Former Deputy Minister Padayachie did not purchase an official vehicle and had on other occasions hired other vehicles when executing official duties in provinces other than Gauteng and the Western Cape.
Minister Baloyi has mentioned that on all occasions where vehicles had been rented, the rental had been unavoidable and was the only feasible option for Ministerial transportation.
Minister Baloyi stated that the department had taken all necessary measures to avoid fruitless and wasteful expenditure.
Enquiries:
Dumisani Nkwamba
Tel: 012 336 1704
Cell: 082 885 9448
E-mail: dumisanin@dpsa.gov.za
Lebohang Mafokosi
Tel: 012 336 1017
Cell: 082 312 4641
E-mail: lebohangm@dpsa.gov.za
Source: Department of Public Service and Administration
