“We only received a double bed and a fridge” - MP scolds department

The Select Committee on Economic and Business Development held its first meeting with Public Works, with the Minister and Deputy Minister present on Tuesday, 15 July 2014. However, as the Committee progressed into discussion following the Department’s presentation, I was struck – not by the Minister’s announcement that the Department was now stable, or the promise that the next audit result would be better – but by the type of questions raised by new and returning MPs.

The questions ranged from prudent pro-poor ones about stipends for the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP), to logistical questions about how the Department will cope with a budget reduction when they already have a staff shortfall.

However, the question that stood out the most, and had other MPs slightly baffled came from a DA MP whose first question to Public Works was about the provision of housing, not for the poor, but for the MPs.

Parliamentary residential villages were built to accommodate MPs living outside of Cape Town, the legislative capital of South Africa, where the bulk of their work is done. This allows MPs to conveniently traipse to and from Parliament as needed instead of flying back and forth between Parliament and the province they reside in. There are three such government-run villages in Cape Town – Acacia Park, Laboria Park and Pelican Park.

The Member’s question seemed to come out of left field, given the urgent matters Public Works has to address such as sustainable job creation through the EPWP, projects to upgrade dilapidated rural schools and skills retention within the Department. Instead the MP lightly scolded the Department for not finishing the renovations on her house in time for the Fifth Parliament.

“The Department knew we were coming. The Department knew the Fourth Parliament was coming to an end and the Fifth Parliament was going to start. Everyone at the end of the Fourth Parliament got packing orders, whether you knew you were coming back or you didn’t know… But, the houses were not updated and renovated, as they should have. In fact, my colleague has no house yet, and my house was not renovated inside or outside,” said the MP.

The Member added that the only new furniture they had received was a double bed and a fridge.

“We haven’t got couches or curtains or anything yet. But I’m not complaining. We are still using the furniture from the Fourth Parliament” said the MP.

With the Minister, Deputy Minister the Department’s senior staff in attendance, is it reasonable to wonder if a more burning question should be asked by a representative of the people?

The matter was brought to a close when the MP’s colleague wisely stated that it was a private matter, he did not want to “bore” the Committee and it would be discussed with the Department after the meeting adjourned.