Cabinet said on Thursday it was concerned about public concerns government was ’living large’ while citizens were feeling the pain caused by the economic downturn.

Minister of Finance Pravin Gordhan tabled a draft report aimed at addressing these concerns.

A ministerial task team has been set up to look at reprioritising spending to increase the impact of the budget.

This follows controversy about a number of luxury vehicles purchased by ministers.

Cabinet spokesperson Themba Maseko said the report would change the culture towards greater prudence and less extravagance.

“Government is not insensitive to the concerns expressed out there in the public, so if there are issues raised about wastage in the way some of the state resources are being managed; government is going to have to not just respond but to be seen to be responding.”