The Democratic Alliance revealed says the presidential inauguration will cost R120-million.
Chief Whip of the DA, John Steenhuisen said Parliament was told the cost of the inauguration would be kept to the minimum.
He said a budget of R60.6 million was requested by the Parliamentary Administration for the rollout of the 2019 Parliamentary inauguration programme.
However, the National Treasury refused to grant the money.
“To plug this hole, numerous austerity measures were implemented, such as a reduction in staff; the secondment of staff from Provincial Legislatures; the re-utilisation of ICT equipment for new members; as well as negotiation with other government departments to cover strategic costs,” said Steenhuisen.
“Yet, in spite of the drastic cutbacks being navigated by Parliamentary Administrative Services for the inauguration of incoming MP’s, the public will now have to fork out over R120 million for the wasteful excesses of the Presidential Inauguration ceremony,” he said.
The party claims the shoestring budget for the event outlined last year has now been changed and municipalities have been ordered to pay out huge amounts to transport delegates to Loftus Versveld on May 25
Meanwhile, the Presidency said the decision to host the inauguration at the stadium is to allow for greater public participation.
The inauguration ceremony has been themed “together celebrating 25 years of freedom, renewal and growth for a better South Africa.”
The inauguration of the President-Elect will take place on 25 May.
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Source: News24
