Minister Oliphant must explain Labour Department's R50 million travel bill
In reply to a Democratic Alliance (DA) parliamentary question, the Minister of Labour, Mildred Oliphant, has revealed that her department spent over R50 million on travel expenses for 2009/10.
A copy of the reply follows below.
The reply further reveals that the department's travel bill increased by over R11 million between 2007/8 and 2009/10.
While it is logical that a travel bill for an entire government department would be sizeable, I will be submitting follow-up questions to the Minister to determine the full details of the trips that contributed to her department's travel bills since 2007/8. I will be asking for a comprehensive breakdown of costs, including the location of each trip, which officials attended and why, and what outcomes each trip achieved.
This administration has become characterised by its use of state money to fund pricey overseas trips. Minister Oliphant needs to explain why her department is any different, and why she regards this R50 million bill as the most effective use of her department's funds.