Minister blows R1.7m on air travel

2011-12-08 18:00

Loyiso Sidimba, City Press

Johannesburg - Performance Monitoring and Evaluation Minister Collins Chabane spent about R1.7m in domestic and international air travel in just 15 months.

Chabane also spent R500 000 to charter two planes in April and October last year.

He revealed his air travel expenses in a parliamentary reply to Democratic Alliance MP Sandy Kalyan.

Chabane’s international travel bill, which included 33 flights, came to over R1.4m.

His domestic bill was R260 000 between April 2010 and July this year for 44 flights.

His former deputy, Dina Pule, now the communications minister, spent over R360 000 on local and international travel between November last year and July this year.

Chabane also took the presidential jet to former president Nelson Mandela’s village, Qunu, in Eastern Cape, in June last year.

He travelled in the presidential jet to Isandlwana in KwaZulu-Natal earlier this year.

The DA said ministers’ spending habits show deep disregard for the needs of the millions of South Africans living in poverty.

“Public Service and Administration Minister Roy Padayachie must ensure that the long awaited amendments to the ministerial handbook are presented and implemented as a matter of urgency,” the party said.

Chabane’s spokesperson is yet to respond to City Press’s enquiry.

» Earlier this week, the DA slammed Chabane and Pule for spending almost R550 000 on car hire between March last year and July this year.

- City Press