Police bosses cost taxpayer R7m
2009-10-26 09:42
Cape Town - Only five months have passed since their appointments, but the expensive tastes of the top officials in the Department of Police have already cost the taxpayer more than R7m.
Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa, his deputy, Fikile Mbalula, and Commissioner Bheki Cele, the national police chief, have spent huge amounts of money on official cars, five-star hotel accommodation and a luxury official residence.
Mthethwa and Mbalula already came under fire for their hotel accommodation - which cost more than R800 000 - and their expensive official cars.
But it was the R3.3m official residence of the national police chief, which really sent tongues wagging.
Beeld reported last week that government was buying a house for Cele in Waterkloof Ridge in Pretoria, even though official residences were available elsewhere in Pretoria.
Could be higher
Dianne Kohler-Barnard, the DA spokesperson on police matters, pointed out that the amount of R7.1m that had been spent so far, could in fact be higher as the police department still had to answer some parliamentary questions.
This included the amount spend on renovations to Mthethwa's official residence, an analysis of how much officials spent on departmental credit cards, and the cost of events and imbizos.
"Let's hope the answers that are to be provided, show that the department is able to spend money sensibly - in contrast to the extravagance of the top officials," said Kohler-Barnard.