Sylvia Lucas has courted controversy for her outspoken opinion that “Load shedding is not the end of the world.” But it’s not the first time the ANC MP has waded into hot waters.

More than a decade ago, the politician made headlines when she splurged over R50 000 from her official credit card on fast food.

Lucas – who enjoys the state luxury of a generator – claimed the amount was “not excessive.”

 

SYLVIA LUCAS: ‘LOAD SHEDDING IS NOT THE END OF THE WORLD’
On Tuesday, 13 February, Sylvia Lucas had Mzansi breathing fire when she exclaimed that “load shedding is not the end of the world.”

Addressing parliament, the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) deputy chair spoke on the debate following last week’s State Of The Nation speech by President Cyril Ramaphosa.

Speaking in Afrikaans, Lucas accused Eskom of trying to “sabotage” the president.

“We must look into that”, she added.

A day after Sona, Eskom announced that they would be implementing stage six load shedding.

According to BusinessTech, cabinet members are exempt from power cuts and are provided generators at their official residences.

ALSO READ: Un-Lucky Star! Tito Mboweni’s cooking ruined by load shedding

R50K ON FAST FOOD: NOT A BIG DEAL TOO?
In 2013, Sylvia Lucas – the then premier of the Northern Cape – made headlines for spending R53 159 on fast food during her first ten weeks in office.

The staggering amount of money was charged to an official credit card.

According to official guidelines, the food budget is reserved for “when the executive authorities are away on official duties outside the province.”

However, the Sunday Times reported that Lucas spent R11 956 on food in her hometown of Kimberly.

The publication claims that a large chunk of the money was spent at restaurants like Spur, Mike’s Kitchen, KFC, Wimpy, and Ocean Basket. Lucas also allegedly went on a shopping spree at a local Spar.

“How would we have eaten if we didn’t use taxpayers’ money?” she reportedly told the publication.

According to Mail & Guardian, spokesperson for the premier’s office Monwabisi Nkompela said Lucas’s spending was “not excessive” and was “totally blown out of proportion”.

He added: “There’s nothing untoward about it; she hasn’t spent money on alcohol or clothes. The [food] purchases are within her rights,” he said.