Madam Deputy Speaker, responses to DA parliamentary questions indicate that 17 national departments have spent a combined total of R898 million on accommodation, restaurant and transport expenses in the 2005-06 financial year.
This represents a 30% increase from the previous financial year for those 17 departments, despite the fact that there has been no significant increase in the number of people employed by the state. For example, Home Affairs increased its expenditure by R110 million or 167%, R95 million of which was on travel. Yet its staff increased by only 322 people over the same period - 322 people cannot possibly be responsible for a R110 million increase. Out of the 17 departments surveyed, nine registered increases above the average of 30%, with only three showing a decline in expenditure.
Apart from Home Affairs, other notable big expenders are Sport and Recreation, which increased its transport, accommodation and restaurant expenditure by 106%, and Public Service and Administration by 72%. None of these departments have registered service delivery improvements anywhere near the level at which they have increased their expenditure on what basically amounts to food, drinks, plane trips and hotels.
Seen against an overall background of poor service delivery, the relevant Ministers owe the taxpayers of South Africa an explanation. I thank you. [Applause.]