Minister’s costs to Atlanta (USA) on an official trip blown out of proportion by the Democratic Alliance
27 August 2015
The Department of Communications (DoC) would like to put it on record that the Minister Faith Muthambi did not spend R600 000 as claimed by Mr Gavin Davis from the Democratic Alliance. In response to Mr Davis’s Parliamentary Question, the Minister indicated the estimated costs, not the actual expenditure incurred for her and officials on a trip to Atlanta.
The invoices received by the Department for travel related costs including connecting flights within the USA amounted to R305 327 for the entire delegation.
The Department of Small Business Development (DSBD) extended an invitation to the DoC to form part of the DSBD creative industry led initiative to take locally manufactured craft products to the international markets. The DoC has a mandate to support the development of the creative industries, particularly in relation to content development in the country. It is therefore, incorrect for Mr Davis to insinuate that the trip has little to do with the work of the Department.
The DoC together with the DSBD led a delegation of South African of men and women from the rural parts of our country to exhibit their creative arts in Atlanta. This has opened opportunities for these men and women from humble backgrounds to better opportunities, which could not have been possible. The artists will be able to export their locally produced products to the international markets without any assistance of a middlemen. Furthermore; this trip provided an opportunity to brand the country abroad.
Minister of Communications Ms Faith Muthambi had various meeting with stakeholders, including young ambassadors.
“We need all strategies for broadcasting content, we will soon have multiple channels, we need to embrace ourselves for that moment, and the meeting with the creative industry in Atlanta paved way for collaboration”. Said Muthambi
Statement issued by Mish Molakeng, Department of Communications, August 27 2015
