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Minister Simmers refutes claims of abuse of ministerial remuneration benefits.

As the Executive Authority of the Western Cape Department of Infrastructure and a member of the provincial legislature, I welcome the media enquiries into the application of my remuneration benefits as prescribed in my contract of employment, to which all public office bearers should be subjected.

It has been suggested that I have abused the state remuneration in terms of the housing benefits. However, I would like to set the record straight. My primary residence remains in the Garden Route which is +_450 km away from my seat of office. My family remains at that residence whilst I fulfill my functions as a member of the executive council for the Western Cape.

I have purchased 2 properties for investment purposes, but the purchase of these properties is of public knowledge as declared to the provincial Legislature and the provincial cabinet as per the current Ministerial Handbook. To date, there hasn’t been any objection to this. As a public official, I remain fully committed to transparency and being held accountable where appropriate.

The properties I purchased were never intended to be my residence – primary or otherwise. They (flats) were always purchased as an investment and do not simply by reason of their proximity to my seat of office disqualify me from the housing benefit provided for in the Ministerial Handbook. It is unfortunate that the choice of investment vehicle I have made is now being used to drive this line of questioning, but I submit it is a red herring – if I had rather invested in a share portfolio this issue would have been moot, yet the intention behind it is the same.

As the provincial Minister, I will not do anything that breaches nor contravenes the guidelines prescribed by the ministerial handbook. I have adhered to my oath of office as a member of the legislature and member of the executive council.

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