The department of small business development did not spend R3.1m on new cars for minister Lindiwe Zulu and her deputy, but paid R1.8m instead.
This was the finding of a report by public protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane‚ which was released on Wednesday.
DA MP Toby Chance said that Zulu had lied in the National Assembly on November 29 last year.
Chance alleged the department had bought cars valued at R3.1bn. These included a Mercedes Benz E400 valued at R1.1m for Zulu‚ a Lexus GS350 for the deputy minister valued at R900‚000 and a BMW 5 series valued at R1m.
Chance asked Zulu about these cars after the department’s adjusted budget was revealed on November 22 which included the new cars.
Zulu told parliament on November 29 that she drove a Lexus valued at R580‚000.
“Even a child would know that a Lexus like that can’t cost a million rands.”