ANC ministers have expensive taste when it comes to cars – this is what they drive

The Democratic Alliance has recently published a list of luxury vehicles ordered by ANC ministers as part of the 2016/17 adjusted budget, announced in October.

While the DA has banned the purchase or leasing of luxury vehicles, it has accused the ruling party of continued wasteful expenditure by purchasing R1 million vehicles in a time when the economy has stalled, and millions of South Africans are without work.

The DA has listed luxury vehicles assigned to ministers as part of its report on R1.29 billion in “wasteful expenditure buried in the Adjustments Appropriation Bill”.

The amount includes the following new luxury cars for government ministers:

• 2 Toyota Fortuners for the Minister of Trade and Industry, Rob Davies
• Value: R623,788 and R625,718 respectively

• 2 BMW-5 Series Sedans for the Minister of Arts and Culture, Nathi Mthethwa
• Value: R740,299 and R742,425 respectively

• 1 BMW X5 for the Minister of Communications, Faith Mthambi
• Value: R1.065 million

• 1 Ford Everest for the Minister of Public Service and Administration, Ngoako Ramatlhodi
• Value: R714,500

• Audi Q7 3.0 TDI Quatrro for the Deputy-Minister in the Presidency for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Buti Manamela
• Value: R971,423

• An Audi A8 and Audi A7 for the Deputy-Minister of Public Service and Administration, Ayanda Dlodlo
• Value: R750,000 and 735,000 respectively

Using data supplied by Naamsa (National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa), Wheels24 recently published a list of vehicles purchased by government in the first half of 2016.

Read: Why public officials should drive luxury cars: ANC Youth League

The orders included 136 BMWs,  25 Audis, three Mercedes, three Lexus models, four Jeeps, and an Infiniti – the luxury vehicle division of Japanese automaker Nissan.

By contrast, WesBank points out that South Africans have turned to used cars, ditching premium models for locally made ones due to the current state of the economy.

The financial services firm noted that the average new vehicle financed in November cost R293,500, while the average used car financed in November cost R190,500.

Read: South Africans turn to used cars, and ditch premium models for locally made ones