Pretoria: The Office of the Deputy President has released a statement denying allegations of misusing State funds related to Deputy President Paul Mashatile’s international travel.
According to South African Government News Agency, this statement follows extensive media coverage from various news outlets and public speculation on the matter. The Office categorically stated that neither the Deputy President nor the office has misused State funds or been extravagant in financing the costs of the Deputy President’s international travel.
The matter was first raised after a written parliamentary inquiry from Action SA, which prompted detailed disclosures regarding travel expenses. The Deputy President provided specific details, including correct figures and breakdowns of individual costs by members of the delegation supporting him, in response to the inquiry.
The Deputy President’s Office emphasized that all international trips are conducted in his official capacity, representing the South African government as directed by President Cyril Ramaphosa. These trips aim to strengthen bilateral, political, economic, and diplomatic relations between South Africa and the countries visited.
Since taking office on July 3, 2024, Mashatile has engaged in several significant international visits, including to Ireland, the United Kingdom, and Japan, with further planned visits to France. The Office provided a comprehensive breakdown of the expenses, stressing that many figures circulated in the media are inflated.
News24 reported that the Deputy President’s recent trip to Japan in March cost R2.3 million, with R900,000 covering accommodation for him and his wife. However, the Presidency highlighted the strategic relevance of the Japan visit, marking the first high-level engagement between South Africa and Japan in a decade, coinciding with the 115th anniversary of diplomatic relations.
During the Japan visit, Mashatile was accompanied by various Ministers. The Presidency believes the visit benefited South Africa’s African Agenda, especially considering the overlap of South Africa’s G20 chairship and Japan’s upcoming hosting of the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) in August.
The Deputy President’s Office disputed claims of exorbitant costs for certain officials, stating that actual expenditures are significantly lower. For instance, a media liaison officer, referred to as the ‘most expensive supporting official’ by TimesLive, was reported to have cost R580,582 for Japan alone, when the total cost was less than R66,000, including flights and accommodation.
The Office reassured the public that the Deputy President’s travels are conducted with fiscal responsibility and align with South Africa’s commitment to global relations and investment. The travel policy in the Presidential Handbook states that transport for the President and Deputy President during travel outside South Africa is the responsibility and for the account of the State.
Additionally, the financial responsibilities for the visits, including travel, accommodation, and other expenses, are typically shared between the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) and other participating departments.