PUBLIC WORKS MINISTER GEOFF DOIDGE AND PUBLIC SERVICE ADMINISTRATION MINISTER RICHARD BALOYI BRIEF MEDIA ON ACCOMMODATION AND TRANSPORTATION OF MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE

CAPE TOWN - Minister of Public Works, Mr Geoff Doidge, and Public Service Administration Minister Richard Baloyi, today (Wednesday, 28 October 2009), briefed the media on accommodation and transportation for Ministers and Deputy Ministers.

Minister Baloyi was last week tasked by Cabinet to deal with all future issues relating to vehicles, while Minister Doidge will respond to the matter of accommodation for Ministers.

Minister Baloyi said Government as an employer, determines the conditions of employment including the provision of necessary tools for members of the executive to do their work.

"The work of members includes travelling mainly between Pretoria and Cape Town. This includes the provision of cars and accommodation in both cities. As Government we would like to stress that these tools are not the personal belongings of the members.

They are and remain the property of the State provided to Ministers as tools of trade."

"Chapter 5 of the Ministerial Handbook for Members of the Executive and Presiding officers stipulates that members at national level may be provided with one vehicle for use in Pretoria and one vehicle for use in Cape Town. The total purchase price of the vehicle chosen may not exceed 70% of the member's annual remuneration package."

Outlining the legal obligations of the State in the provision of accommodation for Members of the Executive, Minister Doidge said members perform their core functions in the legislative and administrative capitals of Pretoria and Cape Town.

"In the Republic of South Africa, the State through the Department of Public Works both at the level of National and Provincial governments has the responsibility, in terms of Chapter 4 of the Ministerial Handbook, to provide official residences to those designated as members of the Executive".

Explaining how far the Department is in the allocation of houses to the Executive, Minister Doidge said only ten members of the Executive are yet to take occupation of official residences in Cape Town.

"Of the ten members in need of accommodation in Cape Town, seven members will be taking occupation of their residences at the beginning of December this year. The delays were due to either the need for routine maintenance and renovations to existing properties or to acquire suitable additional housing stock and lastly await the transferral of the properties to the State so as to minimise the effects of occupational rent."

The Minister emphasised the need to take into account the difference in numbers between the current and previous Executives.

"Due to the reconfiguration of the Cabinet and in following the mandate of the Department in providing official residences for members of the Executive, Public Works has invested in additional housing stock. Thus far, six additional properties were purchased in Cape Town and as Minister, I am satisfied that due process was followed in the purchasing of these properties and that we did so in line with policy and in meeting our mandate as a Department."

Referring to the announcement of a task team to look at government expenditure by Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe in the National Assembly last week, Minister Baloyi said the team would guide Cabinet as to how to approach amongst other considerations, issues of costs related to accommodation of Executive Members.

"As mentioned earlier, the purchases are not outside of policy and regulations. The team, as announced by the Deputy President will make recommendations to Cabinet as to how Government can use cost saving measures in terms of expenditure by the Executive and Government as a whole. These are matters that the Cabinet is conscious of and will make the necessary decisions once we receive the report from the Task Team."

We appeal to the media to note these arrangements and adhere to it.

Statement issued by Ministry of Public Service and Administration, and the Ministry of Public Works, October 28 2009

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