Modise spent R1.3-million on a BMW750i, a purchase defended by Transport MEC in the province Raymond Elisha.
“The car was purchased in compliance with the ministerial handbook, which states that a car to the value of 70% of her annual salary can be purchased,” Eisha was quoted by the Sunday Times.
Eisha added that the decision to purchase the car had been made before Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan instructed Premiers, ministers and MECs to cut back on their extravagances, including the buying of luxury vehicles.
The legislature’s Standing Committee on Provincial Public Accounts (Scopa), meanwhile, condemned the purchase and admitted the ministerial handbook needed to be standardised in regard to purchases.
“We are aware that there is still a need to standardise the cost containment prescribed in the Ministerial Handbook, but that should not constitute for the reckless spending used by the executive,” legislature spokesperson Namhla Luhabe was quoted in a News24 report.
Scopa met with Elisha on Thursday to discuss the purchase of the vehicle.
The probe will focus on the date the order for purchasing the vehicle was issued, when the vehicle was delivered, how many vehicles had been allocated to the premier’s office since 2009 and their status.
