Note to Editors: Please find attached soundbites in English and Afrikaans by Dr Leon Schreiber MP.
Please find attached the parliamentary questions and the replies: Cape Town and Pretoria.
New information obtained by the Democratic Alliance (DA) through parliamentary questions reveals that, over a period of two years, the ANC government spent R93 million on maintaining the 97 mansions, valued at nearly R1 billion, occupied by its Ministers and Deputy Ministers in Pretoria and Cape Town. The DA is submitting a complaint to the Public Protector to investigate what appears to be brazen corruption and tender inflation in the maintenance of Ministerial Mansions.
This means that the government spent an average of nearly R1 million on each mansion in just two years. The expenses incurred were for renovations, repairs, municipal rates, and services including free water and electricity.
| Cape Town | ||
| Item | Financial Year | Cost |
| Maintenance | 2019/2020 | R19 204 501,63 |
| Maintenance | 2020/2021 | R10 216 220,32 |
| Municipal services | 2020/2021 | R6 086 257,42 |
| Municipal services | 2021/2022 | R7 799 623,43 |
| Municipal rates | 2020/2021 | R3 419 690,71 |
| Municipal rates | 2021/2022 | R4 628 445,94 |
| Capital project | R1 410 450,22 | |
| TOTAL | R52 765 189,67 | |
| Pretoria | ||
| Item | Financial Year | Cost |
| Maintenance | 2020/2021 | R8 150 858,24 |
| Maintenance | 2021/2022 | R10 578 066,21 |
| Municipal services | 2020/2021 | R8 849 001,43 |
| Municipal services | 2021/2022 | R7 714 057,69 |
| Municipal rates | 2020/2021 | R2 878 710,66 |
| Municipal rates | 2021/2022 | R2 177 757,49 |
| TOTAL | R40 348 451,72 | |
| GRAND TOTAL COMBINED | R93 113 641,39 |
Many of the expenses bear tell-tale signs of massive tender corruption. At one house in Cape Town, the kitchen was renovated at a cost of over R1.4 million. For an ANC cadre housed in Albert Street, Waterkloof, the State paid over R240 000 to fumigate cockroaches – charged through three different invoices. The replacement of a fallen curtain rail at a house in Johann Rissik Drive in Waterkloof Ridge cost R54 000. And the replacement of light bulbs at a ministerial mansion located in Clark Street in Waterkloof cost over R19 000.
While these appear to be clear cut cases of tender inflation, it does at least finally answer the question of how many Rands it takes for ANC cadres to replace a lightbulb.
| CAPITAL EXPENDITURE | JOB DESCRIPTION | TENDER AWARD AMOUNT |
| CAPE TOWN: 18 OAK HOUSE | upgrade of kitchen, repair floor covering, painting internally and externally | R 1 410 450, 22 |
| 249 ALBERT STREET | WATERKLOOF | 2021/11/29 | 2021/11/29 | R79 375 00 | FUMUGATION SERVICE |
| 249 ALBERT STREET | WATERKLOOF | 2021/11/29 | 2021/11/29 | R79 375 00 | FUMUGATION OF COCKROACHES |
| 249 ALBERT STREET | WATERKLOOF | 2021/11/29 | 2021/11/29 | R79 375 00 | FUMUGATION SERVICE |
| 359 JOHANN RISSIK DRIVE | WATERKLOOF RIDGE | 2021/11/19 | 2021/11/20 | R55 750 000 | REPLACEMENT OF FALLEN CURTAIN RAIL |
| 357 CLARK STREET | WATERKLOOF | 2019/06/26 | 2019/07/27 | R19 068 66 | REPLACEMENT OF DEAD LIGHT BULBS |
Generators to exempt Ministers from loadshedding
One of the biggest components of the R50 million spent on maintenance at ministerial mansions in Pretoria and Cape Town was to make sure that ANC cadres are protected from loadshedding. While South Africans suffer under stage 6 load shedding, the same Ministers and Deputy Ministers who caused this crisis are completely insulated from its consequences. The information obtained by the DA shows that, over the past two years, the ANC government used taxpayers’ money to “refill diesel generators,” “service generators” or “repair generators” at ministerial homes at least 297 different times. On one occasion, the ANC spent nearly half a million Rand to install a generator at a ministerial house in Moreleta Park.
These expenses also have clear marks of possible corruption, with the State routinely spending over R25 000 to “refill” a generator.
| 581 SWART STREET | MORELETA PARK | 2020/11/20 | 2020/11/23 | R454 872 88 | INSTALLATION OF GENERATOR |
| 122 CLUB AVENUE | WATERKLOOF | 2019/12/18 | 2019/12/18 | R28 277 84 | REFILLING OF GENERATOR |
| 12 ANSELIA DRIVE | WATERKLOOF HEIGHT DIP DORP | 2019/12/18 | 2019/12/18 | R28 205 84 | REFILLING OF GENERATOR |
| ANSELIA DRIVE 240 | WATERKLOOF HEIGHTS | 2019/12/18 | 2019/12/18 | R28 195 84 | REFILLING OF GENERATOR |
| 190 STRELTZIA ROAD | WATERKLOOF HEIGHTS EXT 7 | 2019/12/18 | 2019/12/18 | R24 008 29 | REFILLING OF GENERATOR |
| ANSELIA DRIVE 240 | WATERKLOOF HEIGHTS | 2019/12/18 | 2019/12/18 | 4 715 56 | REFILLING OF GENERATOR |
| DELPHIUS STREET | WATERKLOOF RIDGE | 2021/12/15 | 2021/12/20 | R12 370 00 | RREPLACE OIL |
| EMUS ERASMUS STREET | ERASMUSLAND | 2021/12/15 | 2021/12/20 | R10 290 00 | RREPLACE OIL AND FILTER |
| SWART STREET | MORELETA PARK | 2021/12/16 | 2021/12/20 | R16 165 00 | RREPLACE OIL |
| RIGEL AVENUE STAND 868 | WATERKLOOF RIDGE | 2021/12/16 | 2021/12/20 | R17 430 00 | SERVICE GENERATOR |
| BAUHINIA ROAD | WATERKLOOF HEIGHTS EXT 7 | 2021/12/16 | 2021/12/20 | R25 656 50 | SERVICE GENERATOR |
| GEORGE WASHINGTON BOOULEVARD | BRYANSTON | 2021/12/16 | 2021/12/20 | R27 456 25 | SERVICE GENERATOR |
| CLARK STREET | WATERKLOOF | 2021/12/16 | 2021/12/20 | R 25 656 50 | SERVICE GENERATOR |
| RIGEL STREET | WATERKLOOF RIDGE | 2021/12/16 | 2021/12/20 | R25 656 50 | SERVICE GENERATOR |
Swimming pools and air conditioners
On at least 388 different occasions, taxpayers were forced to cough up for upgrades and repairs to swimming pools at ministerial mansions. This was the single most common maintenance expense to ensure that ANC cadres can cool-off in the pool after a long day of looting.
| 581 INDUS STREET | WATERKLOOF RIDGE | 2019/03/23 | 2019/09/25 | R7 748 30 | MAINTENANCE OF SWIMMING POOL |
| 235 ORION STREET | WATERKLOOF RIDGE | 2019/03/23 | 2019/09/25 | R7 748 33 | SWIMMING POOL MAINTENANCE |
| 321 RIGEL STREET | WATERKLOOF RIDGE | 2019/07/25 | 2019/08/06 | R6 941 29 | SWIMMING POOL MAINTENANCE |
| 320 RIGEL AVANUE | WATERKLOOF RIDGE | 2019/07/25 | 2019/08/05 | R6 941 29 | MAINTENANCE ON SWIMMING POOL |
| 205 ORION STREET | WATERKLOOF | 2019/09/23 | 2019/07/25 | R7 748 33 | MAINTENANCE ON SWIMMING POOL |
| 270 DELPHIUS STREET | WATERKLOOF RIDGE | 2019/09/23 | 2019/07/25 | R7 748 33 | MAINTENANCE ON SWIMMING POOL |
| 259 AQUILLA STREET | WATERKLOOF RIDGE | 2019/09/23 | 2019/07/25 | R7 748 33 | MAINTENANCE ON SWIMMING POOL |
| 359 JOHANN RISSIK DRIVE | WATERKLOOF RIDGE | 2019/09/23 | 2019/07/25 | R7 748 33 | MAINTENANCE ON SWIMMING POOL |
| RIGEL AVENUE 193 | ERASMUSLAND | 2019/09/23 | 2019/07/25 | R7 748 33 | MAINTENANCE ON SWIMMING POOL |
| 249 DELPHIUS STREET | MORELETA PARK | 2019/07/25 | 2019/08/05 | R6 941 29 | SWIMMING POOL MAINTENANCE |
| 322 RIGEL AVANUE | WATERKLOOF RIDGE | 2019/07/25 | 2019/08/05 | R6 941 29 | SWIMMING POOL MAINTENANCE |
| KLIPBANKSTR 650 | VINGATE PARK | 2019/07/25 | 2019/08/05 | R6 941 29 | SWIMMING POOL MAINTENANCE |
| 230 RIGEL AVENUE STAND 868 | WATERKLOOF RIDGE | 2019/07/25 | 2019/08/05 | R6 941 29 | SWIMMING POOL MAINTENANCE |
| 277 LYRA STREET | WATERKLOOF RIDGE | 2019/07/25 | 2019/08/05 | R6 941 29 | SWIMMING POOL MAINTENANCE |
| 322 RIGEL AVENUE | WATERKLOOF RIDGE | 2019/07/25 | 2019/08/05 | R6 941 29 | SWIMMING POOL MAINTENANCE |
| 286 ALBERT STREET | ERASMUSLAND | 2019/07/25 | 2019/08/05 | R6 941 29 | SWIMMING POOL MAINTENANCE |
| 302 EMUS ERASMUS STREET | ERASMUSLAND | 2019/07/25 | 2019/08/05 | R6 941 29 | SWIMMING POOL MAINTENANCE |
Once cadres had done some laps in the lap of luxury, they are further kept cool by air conditioners courtesy of the people of South Africa. On at least 90 different occasions, taxpayers’ money was used to install, fix and maintain air conditioners.
| ANSELIA DRIVE 240 | WATERKLOOF HEIGHTS | 2019/08/27 | 2019/08/29 | R 8235 01 | SERVICING OF AIRCON |
| 214 GAZANIA ROAD | WATERKLOOF HEIGHTS | 2019/08/27 | 2019/08/29 | R4 775 00 | SERVICING OF AIRCON |
| 74 GRASKOP | WATERKLOOF | 2019/08/27 | 2019/08/29 | R10 367 49 | SERVICING OF AIRCON |
| 122 CLUB AVENUE | WATERKLOOF | 2019/08/27 | 2019/08/29 | R16 875 00 | SERVICING OF AIRCON |
| 235 ORION STREET | WATERKLOOF RIDGE | 2019/08/27 | 2019/08/29 | R2 465 00 | SERVICING OF AIRCON |
| 12 ANSELIA DRIVE | WATERKLOOF HEIGHTS DIP DORP | 2019/08/27 | 2019/08/29 | R 6 270 00 | SERVICING OF AIRCON |
While South Africans suffer under some of the world’s highest rates of violent crime, the ANC spared no expense to keep themselves safe, spending over R191 000 to fix a broken camera on one occasion. Electric fences at ministerial mansions also often cost R25 000 to service. On at least 84 occasions over the past two years, the people of South Africa paid to fix electric fences for members of Cyril Ramaphosa’s executive.
| 581 INDUS STREET | WATERKLOOF | 2019/11/25 | 2019/11/25 | R191 263 81 | CAMERA NOT WORKING |
| EDWARD 313 | BROOKLYN | 2021/06/08 | 2021/06/08 | R17 562 70 | ELECTIRIC FENCE NOT WORKING |
| 122 CLUB AVENUE | WATERKLOOF | 2022/02/23 | 2022/02/25 | R25 338 00 | ELECTRIC FENCE NOT WORKING |
| EDWARDSTR 313 | BROOKLYN | 2022/01/27 | 2022/01/28 | R25 900 85 | REPAIR OF ELECTRIC FENCE |
| KLIPBANKSTR 650 | VINGATE PARK | 2019/10/17 | 2019/10/18 | R32 662 50 | SERVICE OF ELECTRIC FENCE |
| 581 SWART STREET | MORELETA PARK | 2019/10/17 | 2019/10/18 | R37 493 40 | SERVICE OF ELECTRIX FENCE |
| 70 BOGEY STREET | WATERKLOOF HEIGHTS | 2021/06/08 | 2021/06/08 | R7 748 33 | ELECTRIC FENCE NOT WORKING |
Free water, electricity and municipal rates
The remainder – over R43 million – was spent on paying for property rates, refuse removal, water and electricity at the 97 mansions.
The DA is reporting these severely inflated expenses to the Public Protector. It appears that ANC cadres are even using the luxury mansions where they live like Rockstars to commit tender corruption. We have also already tabled the Cut Cabinet Perks Bill in Parliament, which will bring transparency and oversight to the process of including benefits in the Ministerial Handbook. These perks cost South Africans over R1 billion per year. Our country simply cannot afford to keep paying for the luxury lifestyles of Ministers who live like Rockstars, while loadshedding, unemployment and poverty are at crisis levels.