Buffalo City Metro has forged ahead with plans to sponsor councillors and staff to fly business class on international routes, with the perk extended to mayoral committee members on domestic flights.
This is despite Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan’s call to cut down on travelling expenses.
The new policy, allegedly crafted during a recent workshop at Mpekweni Beach Resort, states that:
- BCM councillors and staff may fly business class on overseas trips;
- 10 mayoral committee members may fly business class locally; and
- Flights for accompanying bodyguards are also sponsored.
In February Gordhan was spotted travelling economy class, an act hailed as exemplary leadership.
Opposition parties yesterday complained that some clauses were added behind their backs.
The DA and COPE also said the new policy did not comply with the Municipal Finance Management Act, as discussed during the Mpekweni workshop in April.
The new subsistence and travel policy was approved at a May 31 council meeting by the same council that approved a circular from Treasury stating that municipalities were not encouraged to fly business class.
The National Treasury circular calling for cost containment was tabled before council by acting city manager Nceba Ncunyana, who only weeks later tabled the new policy featuring the new perks that are set to cost the metro millions.
The National Treasury has also negotiated “improved” upfront discounts for flights and requested municipalities to use the discounted prices.
“For SAA, the discounts range from 5% up to 30% for economy class tickets and 10% up to 26% for business class tickets.
“Please note that business class is not encouraged, however where a single flight exceeds five hours, consideration may be applied,” National Treasury said in a circular.
“For British Airways the discounts range from 10% up to 25% for economy class tickets; and 20% for business class tickets.”
Contacted for comment earlier this week, BCM spokesman Sibusiso Cindi asked the Daily Dispatch to “postpone your story for Thursday” as the metro needed more time to answer questions.
“I think it will be fair if you give us enough time to put together a response.”
However, when the Dispatch requested the response yesterday, Cindi replied: “It is with regret that we are unable to provide responses to your questions at short notice, but we are amazed by your statement that says the opposition fought against the policy, as the opposition was also in the workshop and took part in meetings where this matter was discussed.”
COPE councillor Khayalandile Twalingca told the Dispatch yesterday that the amendments had been added “behind” their backs.
“The only thing we agreed on was that for special and urgent occasions the mayoral committee could use the business class and only for overseas flights,” said Twalingca.
“We have never agreed that they must fly on business class locally.
“I don’t know how that addition made it to the new policy because that is not what we agreed on at Mpekweni Beach Resort.”
He added that BCM needed to provide evidence of where the decision was taken.
“Some of these new amendments are contrary to the law and as COPE we are against the policy because we know we are supposed to comply 100% with the law.
“Even with the bodyguards the new policy suggests that because transport will be provided … all the bodyguards can now travel.
“That is not right because that means they will also fly business class and they will need accommodation, all of them.
‘That is against the cost containment measure communicated to us by the National Treasury,” Twalingca added.
The DA’s Jan Smit said the party was also against the policy amendments.
“In relation to the cost containment measure circular, where all municipalities were urged to cut on costs, the new amendments do not serve that purpose and as the DA we are totally against anything that will see the metro waste millions of rands,” Smit said.
Provincial treasury spokesman Tobile Gowa yesterday said National Treasury was best placed to respond to questions concerning BCM’s new policy.
National Treasury spokeswoman Phumza Macanda had not responded to questions at the time of writing. — mamelag@dispatch.co.za
High-flying councillors snub Pravin
This is despite Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan’s call to cut down on travelling expenses.
The new policy, allegedly crafted during a recent workshop at Mpekweni Beach Resort, states that:
In February Gordhan was spotted travelling economy class, an act hailed as exemplary leadership.
Opposition parties yesterday complained that some clauses were added behind their backs.
The DA and COPE also said the new policy did not comply with the Municipal Finance Management Act, as discussed during the Mpekweni workshop in April.
The new subsistence and travel policy was approved at a May 31 council meeting by the same council that approved a circular from Treasury stating that municipalities were not encouraged to fly business class.
The National Treasury circular calling for cost containment was tabled before council by acting city manager Nceba Ncunyana, who only weeks later tabled the new policy featuring the new perks that are set to cost the metro millions.
The National Treasury has also negotiated “improved” upfront discounts for flights and requested municipalities to use the discounted prices.
“For SAA, the discounts range from 5% up to 30% for economy class tickets and 10% up to 26% for business class tickets.
“Please note that business class is not encouraged, however where a single flight exceeds five hours, consideration may be applied,” National Treasury said in a circular.
“For British Airways the discounts range from 10% up to 25% for economy class tickets; and 20% for business class tickets.”
Contacted for comment earlier this week, BCM spokesman Sibusiso Cindi asked the Daily Dispatch to “postpone your story for Thursday” as the metro needed more time to answer questions.
“I think it will be fair if you give us enough time to put together a response.”
However, when the Dispatch requested the response yesterday, Cindi replied: “It is with regret that we are unable to provide responses to your questions at short notice, but we are amazed by your statement that says the opposition fought against the policy, as the opposition was also in the workshop and took part in meetings where this matter was discussed.”
COPE councillor Khayalandile Twalingca told the Dispatch yesterday that the amendments had been added “behind” their backs.
“The only thing we agreed on was that for special and urgent occasions the mayoral committee could use the business class and only for overseas flights,” said Twalingca.
“We have never agreed that they must fly on business class locally.
“I don’t know how that addition made it to the new policy because that is not what we agreed on at Mpekweni Beach Resort.”
He added that BCM needed to provide evidence of where the decision was taken.
“Some of these new amendments are contrary to the law and as COPE we are against the policy because we know we are supposed to comply 100% with the law.
“Even with the bodyguards the new policy suggests that because transport will be provided … all the bodyguards can now travel.
“That is not right because that means they will also fly business class and they will need accommodation, all of them.
‘That is against the cost containment measure communicated to us by the National Treasury,” Twalingca added.
The DA’s Jan Smit said the party was also against the policy amendments.
“In relation to the cost containment measure circular, where all municipalities were urged to cut on costs, the new amendments do not serve that purpose and as the DA we are totally against anything that will see the metro waste millions of rands,” Smit said.
Provincial treasury spokesman Tobile Gowa yesterday said National Treasury was best placed to respond to questions concerning BCM’s new policy.
National Treasury spokeswoman Phumza Macanda had not responded to questions at the time of writing. — mamelag@dispatch.co.za
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