Cut frivolous spending or we’ll oppose adjustments budget – DA

The DA in Nelson Mandela Bay will not support the adjustments budget if the governing coalition does not curtail its spending on food, travel and accommodation.

The party’s threat to reject the adjustments budget, set to be tabled in council on Thursday next week, follows the revelation that the municipality spent nearly half a million rand on catering between October 2 and December 13.

In January, The Herald reported that various departments had spent a collective R244,059.45 on catering between August 29 and October 4.

The adjustments budget enables the municipality to revise its annual budget and possibly divert money to other projects.

The ANC and its coalition partners – the UDM, AIC and United Front – would still be able to pass the adjustments budget if they have the backing of the EFF.

In a written response to questions from DA councillor Retief Odendaal, the municipality revealed it had also spent:

● R807,637 on flights between August and December;

● R1. 68m on accommodation during the same period;

● R82,967 on general car hire; and

● R65,000 on a hired car for speaker Buyelwa Mafaya.

The disclosure came a day after finance minister Tito Mboweni urged the government to curtail expenditure.

In a letter to mayor Mongameli Bobani and budget and treasury portfolio head Mkhuseli Mtsila, Odendaal said: “While there are moves afoot to seriously curtail government expenditure at a national level, it certainly seems as if Nelson Mandela Bay is ramping up spending on frivolous . . . goods and services.

He adds: “I now wish to place on the record that the DA cannot in good conscience support this budget while you continue to allow the flagrant abuse of public funds.”

Council chief whip Bicks Ndoni, of the ANC, said not supporting the adjustments budget would be irresponsible.

“There are things that have to be done that are servicedelivery-related.”