Mbete's new gyms bloating Parly budget

22 February 2015

The DA strongly condemns reports that the Department of Public Works has approved an R8 million contract to build gyms for Members of Parliament (MPs) living at the Acacia Park, Laboria Park and Pelican Park residences.

As the signator of Parliament's budget, Baleka Mbete has once again played it fast and loose with Parliament's finances and neglected to inform the opposition of this development via the Parliament Oversight Authority or any other communicative platform. 

We will raise our objection to it at the next available opportunity. In the meantime, I will also submit parliamentary questions to the Minister of Public Works, Thulas Nxesi, to determine the details behind the contract.

The Parliament precinct already has a fully equipped gym, and frankly as some of South Africa's highest earners, MPs can easily afford private gym memberships if they are not happy with the facilities already on offer to them.

The money being squandered on these gyms would be better spent providing services to members of the public, not spoiling parliamentarians.

With the National Budget speech days away and repeated belt-tightening calls from National Treasury, Parliament should set an example for the institutions that report to it, not splurge on superfluous luxuries.

Statement issued by John Steenhuisen MP, DA Chief Whip, February 22 2015

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