Nearly half of this amount was spent during two sprees in which Xingwana's office spent close to R500 000 each time, the the Sunday Independent said.

While the department is responsible for purchasing its own furniture, the furniture for the ministry, particularly the minister's office, is bought through the budget of the department of public works, the paper reported.

However, Xingwana's spokesman Cornelius Monama told the paper that there was no furniture when the minister moved into her new office in Pretoria.

"The furniture she used when she was at the Union Buildings was left in the Presidency.

"In her Cape Town office, the minister is still using the previous minister's furniture," Monama told the paper.

Monama admitted that in one case, the department had gotten quotes from only two service providers, instead of the three stipulated according to official regulations.

He said the Xingwana had instituted an investigation relating to this incident of irregularity.