A government task team is looking at the "expensive" practice of
having Parliament in Cape Town and government in Pretoria, Deputy
President Kgalema Motlanthe said on Wednesday.
"This task team is looking at the totality of expenses that may
require review," Motlanthe said in the National Assembly.
"Those expenses range from procurement of vehicles right up to
this expensive practice of having Parliament in Cape Town when
government is in Pretoria.
"Cumulatively there is more wastage. That is why the old
nationalist party used to spend half the year in Cape Town and half
the year in Pretoria.
"Now there is lots of commuting and two houses. Ministers should
live in one house. That would be a major, major save."
Motlanthe said Cabinet would look at the task team's report
before making a decision on its recommendations.
"These are the range of wastage areas and leakages this task
team would look at and then report to Cabinet.
"Cabinet would then take a decision on those."
Motlanthe rejected an idea to re-sell luxury cars that had been
bought by senior members of the government, as had happened in
Kenya.
"If you buy a car for a million and in a week's time you try to
find a buyer for it, you will struggle to find someone who has
R600 000 to pay for that vehicle," he said.
"I don't know the economics of the Kenyan government or the
management of finances there. I think it's not a good example to
follow."