Minerals Ministry Blows R1.92 Million on International Travel Since September 2024
Member of Parliament
ActionSA Alan Beesley MP
ActionSA can now reveal that the Ministry of Minerals and Petroleum Resources, Under Minister Gwede Mantashe, has spent a staggering R1.92 million on international travel in just four months.
The information provided highlights a disturbing continuation of old habits within government—a reliance on costly and extravagant travel arrangements despite the mounting socio-economic challenges faced by ordinary South Africans. Under the guise of official duties, taxpayer money is being drained to fund what appear to be lavish travel expenditure. These patterns are symptomatic of a broader failure by the ANC to prioritise fiscal discipline in governance.
The reply disclosed that these officials, along with their support staff, have spent a combined total of R1 922 320.16 on international trips. While public accountability is essential, these figures raise critical questions about the ongoing culture of extravagance within the grand coalition government.
Among the eye-watering totals, the following stand out as particularly egregious:
1. Flights for the Minister’s support staff to China costing over R274,000 per person.
2. A single trip by the Minister to Perth, Australia, amounting to R171,756.30 for flights alone.
3. Minister Mantashe spent R135 000 on accommodation for just two nights in September of this year.
These figures strongly suggest first-class travel—an unnecessary luxury at a time when the country faces a worsening cost-of-living crisis and growing inequality.
ActionSA maintains that transparency in government spending is essential to restore public trust. This response is part of our broader effort to hold officials accountable and shed light on excessive and wasteful expenditure. When millions of South Africans are unemployed, and essential services remain underfunded, every cent of public money must be spent prudently.
We reiterate our call for stricter regulations on travel expenses for government officials, including:
Mandatory disclosure of travel class and justification for costs exceeding predetermined thresholds.
Comprehensive audits of travel arrangements to identify potential wastage.
A prioritisation of local engagement and the use of digital platforms for international collaboration where possible.
ActionSA is committed to championing a government that places the needs of South Africans first, not the comforts of its ministers. We will continue to demand accountability on behalf of the citizens whose hard-earned taxes fund these extravagances.
Minerals Ministry Blows R1.92 Million on International Travel Since September 2024
ActionSA can now reveal that the Ministry of Minerals and Petroleum Resources, Under Minister Gwede Mantashe, has spent a staggering R1.92 million on international travel in just four months.
The information provided highlights a disturbing continuation of old habits within government—a reliance on costly and extravagant travel arrangements despite the mounting socio-economic challenges faced by ordinary South Africans. Under the guise of official duties, taxpayer money is being drained to fund what appear to be lavish travel expenditure. These patterns are symptomatic of a broader failure by the ANC to prioritise fiscal discipline in governance.
The reply disclosed that these officials, along with their support staff, have spent a combined total of R1 922 320.16 on international trips. While public accountability is essential, these figures raise critical questions about the ongoing culture of extravagance within the grand coalition government.
Among the eye-watering totals, the following stand out as particularly egregious:
These figures strongly suggest first-class travel—an unnecessary luxury at a time when the country faces a worsening cost-of-living crisis and growing inequality.
ActionSA maintains that transparency in government spending is essential to restore public trust. This response is part of our broader effort to hold officials accountable and shed light on excessive and wasteful expenditure. When millions of South Africans are unemployed, and essential services remain underfunded, every cent of public money must be spent prudently.
We reiterate our call for stricter regulations on travel expenses for government officials, including:
ActionSA is committed to championing a government that places the needs of South Africans first, not the comforts of its ministers. We will continue to demand accountability on behalf of the citizens whose hard-earned taxes fund these extravagances.