Media statement on purchase of vehicle for the Minister of Higher Education and Training

The Minister of Higher Education and Training is a new member of Cabinet in a new Department. For the first month following his appointment, the Department had hired a seven series BMW for use by the Minister. The Department was concerned by the high cost of renting a vehicle and decided that one should instead be purchased in line with the Ministerial guidelines.

The car is not the property of the Minister. It was purchased by the Department for Ministerial use on official duties within the regulations and in line with the VIP Protection Unit security considerations.

A similar vehicle to the one which was rented was then purchased on June 11, 2009. This vehicle was on the showroom floor and all its extras were included in the purchase price of R1.1million. Instead of waiting for a new vehicle to be manufactured - which could have taken up to six months - the Department accepted the offer of the dealership to take the showroom vehicle "as is" at a discount price.  Therefore neither the Minister nor the officials of the department ordered any of the extra features in the vehicle.

The Department has not acquired a second vehicle in Cape Town for Minister Nzimande's use. He currently uses a hired car while the vehicle used by the former Minister of Education is being repaired.

Minister Nzimande does not condone wasteful expenditure under any circumstances and stands firm in his condemnation of greed, corruption and selfishness in society. As a leader of the South African Communist Party, he is opposed to any form of unnecessary extravagance and is acutely mindful of the current recession and its impact on the workers and poor of the country. However a vehicle was needed to be purchased for his use and all guidelines were strictly adhered to in acquiring this vehicle. Any offence caused is regrettable.

The Ministry supports the Cabinet process on cost-cutting and will fully implement those measures once they are finalised.

Statement issued by Ranjeni Munusamy, Head of Communications, Ministry of Higher Education and Training, September 2 2009

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