'Backing' for Phumzile's trip

2006-01-19 19:12

Cape Town - The African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) says that deputy president Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka's recent holiday trip to the United Arab has been "blown out of proportion".

However, the party has urged her to make an official statement on the matter.

On Thursday, ACDP MP Cheryllyn Dudley said that, while it was generally a good thing for the public, media and politicians to be alert to holding the executive - cabinet - accountable, "we must be cautious not to jump to conclusions".

"One thing I am sure of is that it must be difficult for the deputy president's family to spend time with her, and fitting them into her schedule must be a nightmare.

"Clearly, there is a need to make public the policy on this issue.

"If necessary clear policy and guidelines should be decided on so that our leaders and their families are not embarrassed in this manner again."

Unreasonable for leaders to travel alone

The deputy president was accompanied by her husband and two children, as well as the wife of Social Development Minister Zola Skweyiya and two children of her personal assistant.

To expect the leaders to travel entirely unaccompanied was unreasonable, said the ACDP.

Dudley did add, however, that it was "obvious" the public should not be expected to foot the bill for holidays taken by members of the executive and their families.

She said: "It would be interesting to know, if this was a business trip, how much of the reported expense of R700 000 was incurred over and above what it would have cost if the deputy president was travelling without her children."

Mlambo-Ngcuka took the trip to the United Arab Emirates in December on an SA air force Falcon jet, accompanied by security and medical staff.

- I-Net Bridge (News24)