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  • Government departments on a new type of gravy train, says DA

    Published on 29-07-2012 03:49 PM
    19 Comments Comments



    Government departments are riding a new kind of gravy train with their catering expenditure, the DA alleged on Sunday.

    Democratic Alliance Chief Whip Watty Watson said replies to questions posed in Parliament showed that the national government's total catering and entertainment bill since 2007/08 was more than R609.7 million.

    "This is not what people mean when they say that government should put its money where its mouth is," Watson said in a statement.

    "This government would rather splash cash on cocktails and canapes than fund the delivery of basic services.... It's time for President [Jacob] Zuma to trim the fat and spend public money on the poor," he said.

    Watson said the departments with the biggest catering and entertainment bills were international relations and co-operation at more than R216.8m; police, R113.2m; and justice and constitutional development, R48.9m.

    Watson said the DA would submit questions to the three departments with the biggest bills to determine the reasons for the huge spending.

    He said the DA would submit questions to Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan to find out what steps the Treasury was taking to control wasteful spending on departmental catering and entertainment.


    Source : Sapa
    1. Categories:
    2. General SA News
    Comments 19 Comments
    1. chrisc4290's Avatar
      chrisc4290 - 29-07-2012, 04:16 PM
      We've seen pics of fat policemen and policewomen, so what is new? Nothing but the best for sir and madam, if someone else is paying.
    1. waynegohl's Avatar
      waynegohl - 29-07-2012, 04:55 PM
      It is "Do as I say not as I do", the people up at the top of the pyramid tell us to curb our spending and to save electricity and not to speed and ....and...and...but they do the exact opposite. It is only a matter of time before the starving and pissed off masses say FU Government and all your other cronies we are taking our share and then you will see all hell break loose.
    1. Zyzzyva's Avatar
      Zyzzyva - 29-07-2012, 05:01 PM
      ...and what can we learn from this?

      Open a KFC near a government building.
    1. Garyvdh's Avatar
      Garyvdh - 29-07-2012, 05:22 PM
    1. Hemi300c's Avatar
      Hemi300c - 29-07-2012, 06:13 PM
      Sick!!!!
    1. grantza's Avatar
      grantza - 29-07-2012, 06:31 PM
      Who could forget our deputy president at the anc centenary celebrations telling the masses
      "the leaders will now enjoy this champagne on your behalf, through their lips"
    1. 2012's Avatar
      2012 - 29-07-2012, 07:14 PM
      And the DA needs to stop counting other peoples books and focus on their own, so that the DA's crown jewel can at least get a clean audit.
    1. peanutville's Avatar
      peanutville - 29-07-2012, 07:58 PM
      Quote Originally Posted by Zyzzyva View Post
      ...and what can we learn from this?

      Open a KFC near a government building.
      LOL
    1. Garyvdh's Avatar
      Garyvdh - 29-07-2012, 08:45 PM
      Quote Originally Posted by 2012 View Post
      And the DA needs to stop counting other peoples books and focus on their own, so that the DA's crown jewel can at least get a clean audit.
      Um, you do understand what the concept of an "opposition party" is, don't you?
    1. ToxicBunny's Avatar
      ToxicBunny - 29-07-2012, 08:50 PM
      Quote Originally Posted by Garyvdh View Post
      Um, you do understand what the concept of an "opposition party" is, don't you?
      Of course it doesn't...

      I'm sure its not aware that CapeTown has received at least 3 or 4 clean audits in a row.
    1. 2012's Avatar
      2012 - 30-07-2012, 05:37 AM
      Quote Originally Posted by ToxicBunny View Post
      Of course it doesn't...

      I'm sure its not aware that CapeTown has received at least 3 or 4 clean audits in a row.
      Get your facts straight. De Lille has some explaining to do to Zille.

      http://ewn.co.za/en/2012/07/24/Audit...municipalities

      And here's a forum post that you so willingly ignored as well:
      http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthre...dit-test/page2
    1. marine1's Avatar
      marine1 - 30-07-2012, 05:42 AM
      Quote Originally Posted by 2012 View Post
      Get your facts straight. De Lille has some explaining to do to Zille.

      http://ewn.co.za/en/2012/07/24/Audit...municipalities.
      Page doesn't exist, ANC must have stolen it
    1. 2012's Avatar
      2012 - 30-07-2012, 05:42 AM
      Quote Originally Posted by Garyvdh View Post
      Um, you do understand what the concept of an "opposition party" is, don't you?
      The whole bashing the ANC hasn't worked for the DA.(remember the disgrace that was the "stop Zuma" campaign?). DA s just preaching to the choir here - anyone paying serious attention to this is already not voting ANC.

      Instead, they should be doing what is working best - making a difference and showing how a government should be run...
    1. ToxicBunny's Avatar
      ToxicBunny - 30-07-2012, 07:01 AM
      Quote Originally Posted by 2012 View Post
      Get your facts straight. De Lille has some explaining to do to Zille.

      http://ewn.co.za/en/2012/07/24/Audit...municipalities.

      And here's a forum post that you so willingly ignored as well:
      http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthre...dit-test/page2
      Ahhh well apologies.. their latest audit wasn't clean....

      But I can be pretty damn sure its still better than any ANC run municipality out there.

      Oh, and in case you missed it, they are doing what they need to do and showing people how things should be run.
    1. 2012's Avatar
      2012 - 30-07-2012, 07:29 AM
      Quote Originally Posted by ToxicBunny View Post
      Oh, and in case you missed it, they are doing what they need to do and showing people how things should be run.
      I said that in my last post. DA must focus more on that stuff (because they are slipping a bit) rather than mud slinging.
    1. JamSync's Avatar
      JamSync - 30-07-2012, 07:43 AM
      Quote Originally Posted by 2012 View Post
      The whole bashing the ANC hasn't worked for the DA.(remember the disgrace that was the "stop Zuma" campaign?). DA s just preaching to the choir here - anyone paying serious attention to this is already not voting ANC.

      Instead, they should be doing what is working best - making a difference and showing how a government should be run...
      Have to agree, bashing does not work. Anyway, I can think of one DA senior leader who looks like she also spends quite a bit of time in the catering line
    1. blunomore's Avatar
      blunomore - 30-07-2012, 09:51 AM
      What is it with these politicians' and civil servants' obsession with food?

      No meeting/function/seminar/conference can take place without food being a major focus point. Eat at home, ffs!!!
    1. evilstebunny's Avatar
      evilstebunny - 30-07-2012, 01:05 PM
      Stomach in chest out you lot!
    1. lucifir's Avatar
      lucifir - 30-07-2012, 01:21 PM
      Quote Originally Posted by grantza View Post
      Who could forget our deputy president at the anc centenary celebrations telling the masses
      "the leaders will now enjoy this champagne on your behalf, through their lips"
      this is something that has stuck in my mind .... and will always be the 1 sentence that sums up the ANC to me ...
      too bad the anc voters don't see this as a problem!!
      if I remember right, this was Kgalema Motlante quote, right??
      so even if JZ goes, nothing will change until the ANC is removed from power, even if just for 1 term