MINISTER MTHETHWA'S RENTAL UP TO DATE
PRETORIA - 30 November 2010. The Minister of Police, Nathi Mthethwa has noted the misleading and image-tarnishing remarks about his alleged non-payment of rent to his official residence. The Minister refutes these allegations as reported in a Parliamentary reply by the Department of Public Works (see here) and subsequent media reports.
For the benefit of the public, the Ministry of Police received a letter from the Ministry of Public Works on 26 May 2010 advising of outstanding rental at the official residence of the Minister in Cape Town. The amount reflected at the time was R13 655.77 apparently for the months of January and February 2010 respectively.
The office of Minister Mthethwa immediately contacted Public Works to ascertain the merits of this alleged outstanding amount, as well as seeking clarity on why this issue was not raised with the Minister for all these months. According to proof documents at the Ministry's disposal, that is the Minister's salary advice, a monthly amount has been deducted from the time he was appointed, each month without fail.
The SAPS salary administration and finance team was also tasked to look into the matter and provide feedback to the Minister. It was then reported that there are certain rental adjustments that are made from time to time based on yearly salary increases of Ministers. The team then assured the Minister that this was accordingly addressed with Public Works team dealing with accommodation administration. It would be premature to speculate on why the Minister was listed as a defaulter, whether it was system error or the fault of the people who are tasked with administrating such processes. Whichever the reason, Minister Mthethwa remains confident that these will be rectified.
As a matter of fact the Ministry received a query from Sunday Times newspaper on the 3rd June 2010 enquiring about this alleged rental default. The Ministry's officials then met with the Sunday Times journalist in Cape Town, showed him all the proof of deductions from the salary advises. Based on this, he mentioned that it was not necessary to run with the story as indeed there is proof the rental money was being deducted without default.
Minister Mthethwa remains committed to fulfilling his commitments as a responsible citizen, including paying without fail, his rental obligations.
Statement issued by Zweli Mnisi, Spokesperson to the Minister of Police, November 30 2010
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