First it was KwaZulu-Natal Welfare and Population Development MEC Gideon Zulu who ran up a R500 000 accommodation tab at a five-star hotel in Durban in 2000.
Now Provincial Auditor-General Barry Wheeler has uncovered checking and control weaknesses in the Department of Welfare's subsistence allowances, with officials having one cup of tea and a glass of beer more than is permitted.
"Meals and beverages in most cases exceed the prescribed rate and, in some instances, more than one meal and beverage is being claimed," Wheeler said.
The officials further milked the taxpayers' kitty by including "service/tips/tray and telephone charges as part of the hotel bill, whereas these expenses should be covered by the daily allowance".
Some officials made hotel reservations, but did not arrive, "resulting in the hotel charging a cancellation levy of R878," Wheeler added.
Some did not submit supporting documentation to substantiate their parking, breakfast and dinner claims as proof of expenses incurred.
"Some officials reside in hotels longer than the approved period, resulting in wasteful expenditure. And no documents are attached to the travel agencies' invoices indicating the nature of the journey or the arrival and departure times of employees," Wheeler said.
Stung by revelations of running up a R500 000 hotel bill for more than 100 days' accommodation in 2000, Zulu said it was cheaper to stay in a hotel than to fly or travel by road when working long-distance.
"The question of how many days are spent in a hotel is relative to my appointments, the workshops I have run, cabinet meetings and parliamentary sessions I have attended and the fraud investigation meetings I have held," Zulu said.
