Letter to the editor

21st February 2017

Dear Mr Khamango

Cc: The Deputy Editor, Ms Mapula Nkosi

Re: Sowetan article – “Zwane and deputy break bank on new wheels”, 21st February 2017

A Sowetan journalist - Mr Loyiso Sidimba - approached the department with questions relating to the purchase of vehicles by Minister Zwane and Deputy Minister Oliphant. Responses were provided in this regard. Your newspaper chose to ignore these responses, or rather selectively quoted from the comprehensive response provided. For ease of reference, the full response provided to your publication was as follows: Vehicles are vital tools required for political heads to function and perform their duties, which duties often require extensive travel. The Ministerial Handbook is the framework used for purchasing vehicles for political office bearers. The rules in this regard are clear. The Ministerial Handbook states in Chapter 5 No 1.2.1 that members at national level may be provided with one vehicle for use in Cape Town and one vehicle for use in Pretoria. The total purchase price of the vehicle may not exceed 70% of the inclusive annual remuneration package of a Minister as may be amended from time to time on recommendation of the Commission for the Remuneration of Political Members. Departments may purchase official vehicle/s directly from manufacturers and/or their dealerships only when the current official vehicle for that office has reached 120 000 km or 5 years, whichever comes first. The vehicles used by both the Minister and the Deputy Minister had reached this stage. Minister Zwane has used vehicles hired from the gFleet since he joined the Department in 2015, as the vehicle used by the former Minister was older than five years and was above 200 000km. Approval was sought and granted by National Treasury to purchase vehicles for Minister Zwane and Deputy Minister Oliphant, which was within the maximum limits allowed. The vehicle purchased for Minister Zwane in February 2017 (and not November 2016 as per the enquiry) is a Mercedes Benz E400 (and not an S400 Hybrid as stated in your enquiry). The vehicle purchased for Deputy Minister Oliphant in November 2016 is a Porsche Cayenne. It's unfortunate that Sowetan, a supposedly credible publication, has chosen to misrepresent facts in the story, in order to suit its own seemingly predetermined agenda. The newspaper has a responsibility to adhere to the code of ethics and conduct for South African print and online media, and report truthfully, accurately and fairly, and it is the Department’s view that this responsibility has been neglected in this specific instance.

Regards, Ayanda Shezi Head of Communications: Department of Mineral Resources