Radio Islam News Team – 20/11/2015

A total of R4.2 million has been spent on the official residence of the Gauteng premier since May last year, even though the premier no longer lives there.

This was revealed by Infrastructure Development MEC Nandi Mayathula-Khoza in a written reply to DA Gauteng Member of the Oversight Committee and Legislature Jack Bloom’s questions in the Gauteng Legislature.

Bloom says it’s a complete waste of money as the Premier does not live at the official residence anymore, it’s just used for a few official functions and they have spent more than twenty million rand over 10 years on the house and he thinks it is about time they sold it off.

The house in Bryanston in north Johannesburg was refurbished for R2.47 million which included converting a mini-golf course into parking, fixing the leaking roof, replacing all external door locks, and repairs to the electrical system, plumbing, paintwork and furniture.
Other expenses were as follows:

·         Plumbing – R448 000;
·         Gardening – R309 000;
·         Cleaning – R300 000;
·         Electrical – R216 246; and
·         Refurbishment of pool- R30 805

Furthermore, R227 000 was spent on water and lights and R195 000 on rates and taxes.

This house was bought in March 2004 for R11.5 million for the use of then-Premier Mbhazima Shilowa. R8.4 million was spent when Shilowa was premier for renovations and alterations of the main house, conference facilities and the parking area.

Although he never lived there, R1 745 000 was spent during Paul Mashatile’s short premiership supposedly to repair structural damage

In 2009 and 2010, when Premier Nomvula Mokonyane lived there, a total of R2 704 500 was spent on refurbishment of the main bedroom and en-suite bath room, as well as the kitchen, laundry, dressing room closet, curtains and bedding, and furniture.

According to MEC Nandi Mayathula-Khoza, the Office of the Premier has “utilized the property for official business engagements with national and international guests.”

However Bloom says, “This is a poor justification for keeping this house and continuing to spend an exorbitant amount on it, the Provincial government already has the Emoyeni conference centre and there are lots of private facilities that can be used for any other requirements”.

 He says this house is a white elephant that should be sold as soon as possible.

“I suspect it is being retained because connected people are making money out of its running costs and never-ending repairs and maintenance”.