Madam Deputy Speaker, over the last number of weeks the excessive expenditure by some ANC Ministers, Premiers and MECs across the country on, particularly, vehicles, for use in execution of their duties, has led to outrage by the general public.
By contrast, the DA in the Western Cape provincial government has led by example. The Premier and MECs are using vehicles available from the government garage. In addition, the DA has put forward some austerity measures for consideration by the President, and launched a Wasteful Expenditure Monitor on 26 July.
I am therefore pleased to acknowledge that the DA's oversight role in this regard and public pressure on such a wasteful expenditure has resulted in the cancellation of two new vehicles, a Mercedes Benz and a BMW, by the Deputy Minister of Human Settlements, the hon Z A Kota-Fredericks. She has instead chosen to retain the vehicles used by the previous Minister, Minister Sisulu.
In addition, the Minister of Human Settlements, Minister Sexwale, has chosen not to purchase any new vehicle, but to use his personal transport, and, to date, he has not submitted a claim for the official use of such transport. Naturally, not all Ministers are in the fortunate position to do this. However, both Ministers must be commended for heading the call to contain unnecessary and extravagant spending in the current economic climate. I call on other members of the executive to follow their example. Thank you.