The government has spent R183million on 34 luxury homes for ministers and senior government representatives since President Jacob Zuma took over the ruling party in 2009.

Zuma created six new Cabinet posts and appointed 17 new ministers and some of these luxury homes were for them according to a report from Public Works Minister Gwen Mahlangu-Nkabinde.

Responding to questions from the Democratic Alliance’s MP Erik Marais, Mahlangu-Nkabinde confirmed that 15 new homes were bought in Pretoria’s suburbs of Waterkloof and Moreletta Park at a cost of R68.2million.

In Cape Town 19 homes were purchased at a cost of R115.7million. The average cost of the official residences was R5.4 million each but this figure apparently does not include the extra money spent on renovations, furnishing or upgrading of security facilities.

In terms of the Ministerial Handbook, used to regulate perks and privileges for members of Parliament, each minister and deputy minister is entitled to occupy an official residence free-of-charge in either Pretoria or Cape Town.

If a second home is allocated to a minister or deputy minister then a “market-related” monthly rental, equivalent to one-twelfth of 1 percent of the member’s basic salary must be paid for the second home.

This “market-related” rental for the multi-million rand home amounts to R1 300 a month for a minister earning R1.6million a year.

Taxpayers also pay the costs of all garden maintenance, all cleaning equipment, the wages of a domestic worker and all furniture and electronic goods.

In March this year the Public Works Department admitted to spending R93million on a new state-owned guest house in Pretoria and set aside R177million for improvements and refurbishment of Zuma’s official residence in the city.

The Prestige Portfolio – a division of the Public Works Department that looks after the acquisition and maintenance of all VIP housing and accommodation – is being investigated by the Hawks and details of the investigation will be released in due course.

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