Deputy Speaker, the continuing revelations about ministerial cars is an embarrassing situation for the ruling party who campaigned on a pro-poor ticket.
The countless individual reasons that have been advanced for buying expensive vehicles demonstrate that the system of ministerial perks and packages is flawed. For instance, it simply doesn't make sense when people claim they are spending R1 million on a car for security reasons when the car has not been built to be bulletproof. It is clear that these vehicles are simply bought at the whim of individuals.
As the UDM we call on government to standardise the packages of Ministers, premiers and MECs. The system that is used by responsible countries is to require a pool of state vehicles that are standardised. It also means that the state can make a bulk acquisition, which in turn would enable it to get the vehicles at a discounted rate.
The vehicles must have a standardised colour scheme and bear the ministerial logo as well as the South African flag, like official vehicles in other responsible countries. No elected official member of the state should be shy about being seen in a car ... [Time expired.]