R200m of taxpayers' money spent on GNU ministers' travel since taking office

Ministers in the government of national unity (GNU) have spent more than R200m on travel expenses since July last year.

This was revealed by ActionSA through its GNU performance tracker after receiving replies to parliamentary questions sent to ministers.

Deputy President Paul Mashatile and his staff splurged more than R2m on travel expenses in Japan for transport and accommodation. The following amounts were spent:

• R613,214 on flights;
• R1,235,569 on accommodation;
• R410,926 for ground transport for all trips; 
• R8,033 on laundry services; and
• R51,393 for restaurant services.

Mashatile has been to four international trips since last year, which are Ireland, Botswana, Zimbabwe and, recently, Japan.

ActionSA MP Alan Beesley criticised the spending, calling it “executive indulgence” and “wasteful expenditure”.

“This sort of wasteful expenditure, an extension of ANC excess now rebranded under the GNU, has become business as usual for the world’s most bloated executive,” he said.

“South Africans deserve leadership that puts people before perks and not a R200m travel spree by the world’s largest cabinet.”

The sport, arts and culture department's travel expenses have also raised concern. Minister Gayton McKenzie said he and his staff undertook 11 international trips costing more than R2m, adding that R164,556 was paid for a trip to Burkina Faso that never took place.

“Not only is this spending exorbitant but it is riddled with red flags, gaps and inconsistencies. The public paid for flights and accommodation for an event that was abandoned, a textbook case of wasteful expenditure, as defined by the Public Finance Management Act,” said Beesley.

“Unless the minister can demonstrate that this loss was unavoidable and efforts were made to recover the funds, this reflects a serious failure of financial oversight and internal control.”

ActionSA has introduced the Enhanced Cut Cabinet Perks Bill to address unchecked government spending.

“This bill seeks to slash ministerial perks and restore much-needed fiscal discipline.”

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