Zuma wives’ cars could have funded 116 students

24 May 2016

R8.6 million was spent on Zuma’s wives' cars in the last five financial years, according to a parliamentary reply received today. These cars include such high-end luxury makes as Range Rovers, Land Rover Discoveries and Audi Q7s. 

This amount of money could have funded 116 university students for a year, or 38 students for the course of a three-year degree. 

This amount could have been used to hire an additional 61 police officers for a year. 

This amount could have been used to provide jobs to 1 315 EPWP workers. 

Yet the President decided to rather spend this gigantic amount on lavish VIP vehicles for his wives. South Africa’s economy is in a dire state. The economy is bleeding jobs, while President Zuma continues to bleed South Africans dry. 

South Africans do not need to be bled dry. On 3 August, they have an opportunity to put an end to the flagrant misuse of state funds, and vote for a DA government, which would put their needs over those of a self-indulgent crony elite. 

Text of the reply:

36/1/4/1/201600131

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

FOR WRITTEN REPLY

QUESTION 1354

DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 6 MAY 2016

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 13-2016)

1354.     Mr Z N Mbhele (DA) to ask the Minister of Police:

Have any vehicles been purchased from the SA Police Service budget for use by spouses of the President of the Republic, Mr Jacob G Zuma, in the (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13, (c) 2013-14, (d) 2014-15 and/or (e) 2015-16 financial years; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, (i) what (aa) model(s) and (bb) make(s) of each vehicle was purchased in each of the specified financial years, (ii) what is the year of manufacture of each specified vehicle that was purchased in each of the specified financial years, (iii) what was the cost of the specified purchases and (iv) what was the reason for the purchase in each case?

NW1502E

REPLY:

(a)  2011-12 financial year.   No.

(b)  2012-13 financial year.   Yes.

(c)  2013-14 financial year.   Yes.

(d)  2014-15 financial year.   No.

(e)  2015-16 financial year.   Yes.

(i)  - (iii)

(iv) To provide comprehensive protection of VIP Spouses.

ENDS

Issued by Zakhele Mbhele, DA Shadow Minister of Police, 24 May 2016