SA forks out R12m on guests at ANC bash

2012-03-22 15:50

Cape Town - South Africa spent R12m on hosting foreign guests at the ANC's recent 100-year celebrations, International Relations Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane said on Thursday.

The state picked up an R11 014 000 tab to house 50 heads of states and governments and nine dignitaries with their delegations at the ANC bash in January, Nkoana-Mashabane said in a parliamentary reply.

Another sum of just over R1m was spent on logistics, including meals, at the three-day event in Bloemfontein.

The celebrations included a golf tournament, animal sacrifice, concerts and a mass rally and were attended by countries that supported the ANC's anti-apartheid fighters.

The event was also used for meetings on South Africa's foreign policy, and to lobby its nomination of a former international relations minister as the next African Union chairperson, Nkoana-Mashabane said.

The lavish celebrations drew criticism for the ANC, accused of failing to focus on ongoing problems like poverty, inequality and unemployment.

- AFP