Ministerial Flights: Collins Chabane spends almost R1.5 million on international travel

Today in a parliamentary reply to the Democratic Alliance (DA), Minister of Performance Monitoring & Evaluation, Collins Chabane, revealed that he has spent over R1.4 million of public money on international flights since 12 April 2010.

A copy of the reply can be found here.

Minister Chabane's reply revealed:

• Between 12 April 2010 and 28 June 2011, he spent R1 416 018 on Business, First Class and chartered international flights.
• This equates to R42 909 for each of the 33 flights he took.
• Two of the flights taken by Minister Chabane were chartered, and cost R380 000 and R119 980 respectively. 

It is not immediately apparent to us why Minister Chabane needs to undertake overseas travel at all. The Minister needs to explain to Parliament how the numerous overseas trips he took last year assisted him in the effective monitoring and evaluation of government's performance. 

In a parliamentary reply two days ago, Minister Chabane confirmed that he and his deputy had spent almost R550 000 on care hire since March 2010.

The South African people have spent almost R2 million on travel for Minister Chabane and his deputy over the last eighteen months. 

This expenditure is unnecessary and excessive. It represents public money being diverted away from far worthier and more pressing national priorities, and instead being used to fund the platinum lifestyles of the ANC government's elite. 

If anything needs monitoring and evaluation, it is the Minister's own spending habits, and those of the rest of his Cabinet colleagues. 

Statement issued by Geordin Hill-Lewis, DA Shadow Deputy Minister of Public Service and Administration, December 8 2011

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