The DA calls on the Minister of Human Settlements, Mmamoloko Kubayi and the Minister of Water and Sanitation, Senzo Mchunu to immediately disband the two National Rapid Response Task Teams (NRRTT’s) that were established by the previous Minister, Lindiwe Sisulu.
Members of the two controversial NRRTT’s were personally appointed by the previous Minister – many without even having submitted CV’s – and include the likes of ex Fees Must Fall leader, Chumane Maxwele; ex PAC leader, ka Plaatjie; and ex COPE Regional leader, Mbulelo Ncedana.
It has long been suspected that that Minister Sisulu may have used state resources to staff herself a political war room disguised as a “rapid response team”. These concerns persist in the absence of any concrete evidence of what governance related outcomes these units have achieved in the past two years.
Despite on-going calls to disband these units, as well as formal referrals to both the Public Service Commission and the Public Protector by the DA, these Units have continued to cost the tax-payer more than R16 million each year on salaries alone.
A recent DA Parliamentary question has now revealed that between March 2019 and the State of Disaster, the Water and Sanitation NRRTT alone has billed the almost bankrupt Department over R3.7 million in travel and accommodation expenses.
This comes in addition to information revealed by the DA yesterday that Sisulu’s top aide, Mphumzi Mdekazi has single handedly claimed more than R1,76 million in travel expenses since May 2019.
It’s inconceivable that a gang of politically appointed fat cats has been permitted to spend millions of rands of taxpayers money on lavish travel, accommodation and personal laundry services.
Below are some the examples of the expenses that were incurred by the National Rapid Response Task Team from 1 March and during National State of Disaster period:
| Name of official | Category | Cost |
| Mr Zolile Burnsncamashe | Accommodation/ domestic air travel/ Car hire and transfers | R 306 296 |
| Mr Mzwakhe Masoue | Accommodation/ domestic air travel/ Car hire and transfers | R 468 446 |
| Mr Maxwele Chumani | Accommodation/ domestic air travel/ Car hire and transfers | R 335 875 |
| Mr Likhaya Ngqezana | Accommodation/ domestic air travel/ Car hire and transfers | R 543 363 |
| Mr Simphiwe Ngxakeni | Accommodation/ domestic air travel/ Car hire and laundry | R 386 727 |
| Ms Suliwe Shilwayi | Accommodation/ domestic air travel/ Car hire and transfers | R 488 736 |
See full break down here
The DA will again write to Ministers Senzo and Kubayi, requesting their assistance in disbanding these units once and for all. We will furthermore refer all related travel claims to the Auditor General for full investigation.
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