Call to review ‘exorbitant’ spending on MPs’ housing

There are renewed calls for a review of the housing allowance for MPs after revelations that taxpayers are forking out more than R100m for the upkeep of parliamentary villages in Cape Town.

This week public works & infrastructure minister Dean Macpherson revealed the costs, responding to a written parliamentary question posed by DA MP Edwin Bath.

Macpherson — also a DA MP, serving as a minister in the government of national unity — said this was the cost of operating and maintaining houses in Acacia Park in Goodwood, Laboria Park in Belhar and Pelican Park in Strandfontein. MPs pay monthly rent of R172 to R207. Bath slammed the spending on MPs’ accommodation, saying it was not justifiable given the state of the economy.

“The costs of running the parliamentary villages are exorbitant. Many units are prefabricated, making these costs difficult to justify or compare. These expenses predate the minister’s term and warrant thorough scrutiny. These figures also exclude parliament’s daily transport costs for MPs and staff to and from parliament,” he said.

“In today’s economic climate, such high costs are unjustifiable. Parliament’s decade-long neglect of these villages has unfortunately shifted the burden onto the [department of public works & infrastructure].

“Additionally, the land at Acacia Park is not state-owned, raising further questions about the justification of investing public funds there. The [department] DPWI has correctly referred the question of feasibility to the Independent Commission for the Remuneration of Public Office Bearers. Consideration is urgently needed to determine whether the current housing system is sustainable.”

Bath called for some of the parliamentary villages to be donated to the City of Cape Town for “affordable housing” purposes.

He told parliament it costs taxpayers at least R102m a year for the upkeep of the houses — including municipal rates and taxes, and water and lights — for which MPs pay a monthly rent of between R172 and R207.

The public works department’s head of communications, Lennox Mabaso, said at least R29m was spent on “gardens and [sports] grounds” at the three villages. A further R8m was spent on “unplanned maintenance” at houses that were 80 years old, while R65m went to municipal services, rates and taxes.

The minister is of the view that these funds could be better used for infrastructure maintenance and development. Ultimately, it is a matter for the presiding officers and MPs to deliberate on

—  Lennox Mabaso, public works department head of communications

“The R29m was spent on planned and unplanned maintenance. Planned maintenance involved statutory maintenance matters, as well as the upkeep of gardens and grounds. It also included the maintenance of electrical, plumbing and mechanical systems, waste management and the building fabric,” Mabaso said.

Macpherson, according to Mabaso, wants a new “discussion” on the costs of housing MPs.

“Privileges and the accommodation of MPs are determined by parliament. We are merely the implementers of this,” Mabaso said. “However, the minister believes ... there should be a discussion regarding the costs associated with accommodation, and alternative options should be explored due to the financial burden it places on the department of public works & infrastructure, which is compelled to carry this expense on behalf of parliament.

“The minister is of the view that these funds could be better used for infrastructure maintenance and development. Ultimately, it is a matter for the presiding officers and MPs to deliberate on.”

In a presentation before the public works portfolio committee in 2023, MacPherson’s department indicated it would be spending R500m in 2027 on the upkeep and maintenance of the parliamentary villages and other facilities in Cape Town. Despite the huge amount spent on the houses, MPs have for years complained about the poor state of their state-funded accommodation, saying the houses are of poor quality and that some have asbestos roofing.

They highlighted issues such as the demolition and renovation of houses, the absence of a functional parliamentary villages board, safety concerns and how maintenance and other contracts were managed.

The three villages comprise 666 residential units — 493 in Acacia Park, 108 in Pelican Park and 65 in Laboria Park.