- KwaZulu-Natal has banned government Christmas parties and limited catering at government-sponsored events to R200 per person due to a R10-billion debt crisis.
- Treasury limited MEC car rentals and demanded events be held only in public halls.
KwaZulu-Natal has banned government Christmas parties as the province struggles with a R10-billion debt to service providers.
It has also limited catering at government-sponsored events to R200 per person.
Treasury boss Carol Coetzee issued strict new rules on Friday, forcing workers to pay for their own Christmas celebrations.
The six-page memo also limits MECs’ car rentals to R70,000 monthly, with 8,000 free kilometres. They must order new vehicles by 15 November, staying under the R800,000 limit set by the Ministerial Handbook.
“Catering may be procured but it should not exceed R200 per head. Departments/entities are permitted to procure sports kits for the teams of various sporting codes but after they have been used those kits need to be washed and returned to the departments/entities,” the memo reads.
The province has banned using marquees or private venues, ordering departments to use public halls instead.
International trips need cabinet approval, staff travel claims are limited to 1,700km and only performers on the government database can be hired.
Coetzee warned that breaking these rules would lead to disciplinary action.
Pictured above: MEC for Finance in KwaZulu-Natal Francois Rodgers and his HOD Carol Coetzee, who have slapped the province with serious cost-cutting measures.
Source: Treasury
