Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni has declined to directly answer a parliamentary question regarding the breakdown of travel expenses incurred by herself, ministers and deputy ministers since the seventh administration.
ActionSA’s Kgosi Letlape had asked for a detailed response that was expected to include the purpose and justification for each trip, transport, accommodation, and meals, among others.
Ntshavheni replied: “The reply to this question is forwarded to the Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence.”
Outrage at the non-disclosure
Lerato Ngobeni, ActionSA parliamentary chief whip, expressed outrage over the reply. She added that the reply was also months late.
Ngobeni believes that this is Ntshavheni’s attempt at evading public accountability by sending her response to the committee.
She described the Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence as a secretive committee. It is secretive to the broader parliament and the public, she added.
“This is nothing more than a deliberate attempt to further shield her spending from scrutiny. Consequently, ActionSA has today written to the Speaker of Parliament, Thoko Didiza. This to demand urgent intervention and defend the integrity of parliament’s oversight,” said Ngobeni.
She demanded that the reply be made public, as they cannot tolerate the conduct as received.
Ngobeni believes that Ntshavheni avoided answering the question to ActionSA as it is linked to the R200-million that has already been spent by ministers and deputy ministers since the inception of the the government of national unity (GNU) a year ago. The GNU cabinet consists of 32 ministers and 43 deputy ministers.
This includes R950 000 spent by deputy president Paul Mashatile for four nights accommodation in Japan.
‘Private travel slush fund’
She said the Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Gayton Mckenzie, also spent R160 000 on a trip to Burkina Faso. And she questioned if the trip ever happened.
“The GNU has turned the public purse into a private travel slush fund. The Minister in the Presidency’s actions reveal a flagrant disdain for accountability. A total disregard for the public’s right to know how their money is spent,” said Ngobeni.
