President Cyril Ramaphosa\u2019s administration is set to splash out on renovations for ministerial homes and other government-owned buildings, including R29 million on a guardhouse and R29 million on gates and a doghouse.<\/p>\n
The Sunday Times<\/a> reports that more than R730 million has been set aside for a number of upgrades, at a time when the country’s tax-collection revenue is on the decline, and is in sharp contrast to the cost-cutting measures that the government has previously pledged to introduce.<\/p>\n Citing a written reply to parliament by public works minister, Thulas Nxesi, the paper reported that the money has been allocated for the Union Buildings, houses for MPs and ministers, and their offices within the parliamentary precinct.<\/p>\n The budget includes the following items:<\/p>\n While a large chunk of this money will be spent on parliamentary buildings, Ralph Mathekga, an independent political analyst and former Treasury official, said the spending on ‘frills’ was unwarranted.<\/p>\n “Buying carpets, I call it frills, we can do without that type of thing,” he said.<\/p>\n “That is a nonessential expenditure. It\u2019s an indulgence. The budget deficit is growing, there\u2019s pressure to cut the public wage bill.”<\/p>\n Changes on the way?<\/strong><\/p>\n Government recently stated that it will revise<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>the ministerial handbook to curb wasteful expenditure, however, this rhetoric is not new under the ruling party.<\/p>\n According to a May 2018 report released by the\u00a0DA<\/a><\/strong>, South Africa\u2019s ministerial cabinet is one of the largest in the world with 35 ministers \u2013 far bigger than the United States at 15 ministers, Kenya with 18 ministers and the United Kingdom with 21 ministers.<\/p>\n In addition to salaries, the DA said that the current cabinet had overspent on housing and vehicles.<\/p>\n\n