MOKONYANE'S R520 000 CREDIT CARD BINGE

Gauteng Premier Nomvula Mokonyane spent R520 000 over four years when she was previously MEC for Housing.

This information came to light in a written reply by the present MEC for Local Government and Housing Ntombi Mekgwe to my questions in the Gauteng Legislature.

According to Mekgwe, Mokonyane was issued a government credit card in December 2005, spending about R7000 in that year. In 2006 she spent R112 000 and R206 000 in 2007. This covered "accommodation on local business trips, transportation costs including emergency repairs to MEC's car and catering for several official meetings."

According to an earlier reply, Mokonyane spent R195 000 in 2008, so the total amount is R520 000. This is scandalously high, rising each year for unexplained reasons.

She spent way more than Humphrey Mmemezi who resigned last year after spending R124 000 on his credit card in 2011, most of which he had to repay because it contravened the Ministerial Handbook. This included a R10 000 painting bought through a McDonald's restaurant.

Mmemezi has claimed that former MECs of his department, including Mokonyane, had cases to answer concerning misconduct in the department. His was quoted as saying: ‘‘I am being painted black as the worst one, when MECs before me have not paid, they are protected. Even the Democratic Alliance does not check others who were MECs before me, they are only targeting me."

I am suspicious of Mokonyane's high spending because most of her travel and accommodation and travel expenses should have come from the department's budget, not from a corporate credit card.

As usual, the official reply ducks providing details of the spending, but it looks excessive and extravagant.

It's a poor example when people are suffering in difficult economic times.

Statement issued by Jack Bloom MPL, DA Gauteng Caucus Leader, January 24 2013

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