Nxesi tables plans for many chairs
Ministry to spruce up ‘antique’ furniture for MPs
THE Department of Public Works has embarked on a multimillion-rand shopping spree for MPs and cabinet ministers, buying them new coffee tables, fridges, beds, dining suites and houses.
Department spokesman Thami Mchunu would not say how much the furniture would cost, but confirmed that hundreds of double beds, fridges, curtains and thousands of dining chairs would be bought.
He said six ministers and deputy ministers still needed to be accommodated. R2.5-million had been allocated for this.
Another R29-million would be spend on upgrading security at the parliamentary villages.
He said the final amount had not yet been determined and that the expense was “not some frivolous” one. It was necessary because the department had not changed some of the furniture in the parliamentary villages for eight years.
The new expenditure was revealed by Public Works Minister Thulas Nxesi in the National Assembly this week when he tabled his spending plans.
Nxesi said R346-million had been set aside for the department’s prestige property unit, which looks after the accommodation requirements of MPs and ministers.
He said the three parliamentary villages in Cape Town — Acacia Park in Goodwood, Laboria Park in Bellville and Pelican Park in Muizenberg — were being renovated.
An official who lives at Acacia Park said the furniture in most houses was too old, with some chairs and sofas worn out.
“Some have an unbearable smell of cigarettes,” said the official.
The minister, who has been credited with making progress in eliminating corruption in the scandal-prone department, said he was also in the market for houses for new members of the cabinet following President Jacob Zuma’s expansion of it.
Zuma has increased the size of his cabinet from 34 ministers and 28 deputy ministers when he took office in 2009 to 35 ministers and 37 deputy ministers this year.
Nxesi said he was considering either renting or building new houses.
It is not clear how many minister or deputies do not have permanent state accommodation, because the department did not respond to questions.
The state provides free accommodation for the president, his deputy, cabinet ministers and deputies, MPs, judges and premiers during their terms of office.
Previous projects undertaken by the prestige property management unit were marred by corruption.
It emerged in 2012 that the cost of renovating seven ministerial houses in Pretoria was R60-million. The matter was investigated by the Special Investigating Unit and a director in the unit was fired.
In Cape Town, 25 ministerial houses were renovated at a cost of R100-million. The SIU is still investigating the matter.
To prevent cost inflation and corruption, Nxesi said, he had decided to cap the cost of renovating prestige property.
“Costs for renovation of stateowned houses have now been capped at 30% of the market value of the property,” he said.