Madam Deputy Speaker, eight months ago, a senior executive member of the Finance Ministry summed up the responsibilities of the government as follows:
Budgeting is not only about expanding expenditure, it is also about rooting out waste. A greater sense of responsibility needs to permeate the ethos of government all the way through the accountability chain. Our resolve will be tested to the limits. We have to put self-interest aside.
I have a tip for the author of these words, a "Tip for Trevor", as he likes to call it. That tip is as follows: when you say, "act responsibly", "don't waste", "put self-interest aside", you can't then go and buy R1,2 million worth of luxury vehicle with taxpayers' money. [Interjections.] You can't then go and spend R100 000 on luxury accessories.
One would have thought that the hon member would be familiar with the notion of an opportunity cost. This administration has now spent more than R42 million on motor vehicles, which is R42 million less that can be spent on basic services and infrastructure that the people of this country so desperately need.
And of this R42 million, nearly R1 million has been spent solely on accessories. We are told that these are essential in helping Ministers perform their jobs. They include such essential items as electric rear- screen roller sun blinds, rear-seat entertainment centres and DVD players, media interfaces and navigation systems, high-gloss setting chrome finishes. Hon members responsible for these indulgences should explain to the House how they advance their service delivery mandates. Thank you. [Time expired.] [Applause.]