DA Caucus says no to lavish SONA receptions funded by taxpayers
06 February 2015
Yesterday, 05 February 2015, the 103 member Democratic Alliance Parliamentary Caucus took a conscious decision not to attend any of Parliament's pre- and post-State of the Nation Address (SONA) receptions, which are funded by the taxpayer.
I will be writing to the Speaker to inform her of our decision to boycott these events given their wasteful nature.
It cannot be that Members of Parliament (MPs) wine and dine at the expense of the taxpayer, who we represent, when those funds could be better used to deliver quality services to the people of South Africa.
In light of growing dissatisfaction and anger from South Africans in areas like Malamulele, Randfontein and Mogalakwena, to name a few, as well as an electricity crisis that threatens South Africa's present and future prosperity, there is no reason for MPs, Cabinet and other public officials to celebrate using public funds.