NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
(For written reply)
QUESTION NO. 1453
INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO. 14 NW1620E

DATE OF PUBLICATION: 3 June  2011

1453. Mrs D A Schäfer (DA) to ask the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs:

(a) On how many occasions since 1 March 2010 did his office hire a vehicle to transport (i) him and (ii) his Deputy Minister and (b) in each case, (i) what was the cost of hiring the vehicle, (ii) for what reason was the vehicle hired, (iii) for how many days, (iv) what (aa) make and (bb) model of vehicle was hired and (v) what total distance was travelled?     NW1620E

1453. THE MINISTER OF WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS ANSWERS:

The Ministerial Handbook Chapter 5  on Official vehicles states that "Members at a national level may be provided with one vehicle for use in Cape Town and one vehicle for use in Pretoria".  It further provides for "Use of Incidental Vehicles for official purposes away from respected seats of office". Members are allowed to make use of incidental or rented vehicles when on official duty.  The rented vehicles should be vehicles befitting for Ministerial use and in these instances the vehicles hired have been various makes and models of Group " i " vehicles.

In such cases the Handbook allows the cost of incidental / rented vehicles for official use to be borne by the relevant department.

These hired cars are used on official duty for direct interaction with communities and stakeholders outside Gauteng and Cape Town as a critical part of the Public Participation programmes of Ministers and Deputy Ministers. These enable Ministers and Deputy Ministers to fulfil their duties and meet their ever demanding schedules.

The department has hired an amount of 22 cars between Minister and Deputy Minister during the time under review.

The inclusive cost of these has been R434 664.24 while total distance travelled has been 8491 km.

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Issued by Parliament, August 25 2011

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