Was Joemat-Pettersson's state-funded trip to Sweden official or personal?
The more we learn about Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Tina Joemat-Pettersson, the more she resembles Sicelo Shiceka.
Not only has she racked up at least R1.6 million in luxury hotel bills since taking office in 2009, but she appears to have taken a personal trip to Sweden using public funds - just like Shiceka did to Switzerland.
In reply to a DA parliamentary question (no. 3027) signed on 30 November 2010, Minister Joemat-Pettersson revealed that she had gone overseas multiple times in her capacity as Minister since taking office, including to Sweden from 20-22 December 2009. The trip cost R58,743, including airfare and accommodation.
She described the trip as a "working visit to get counterparts and discuss possible investment opportunities." However, this Swedish sojourn is highly suspicious for four reasons:
1. It is common cause that the Minister has family and owns a flat and summer house in Sweden. Unlike every other trip she took, where the Minister attended an official conference or met with a contactable individual, she offers no details about where she went or whom she met in Sweden.
2. She went a few days before Christmas, which is strange timing for a business trip, considering that government business winds down at this time of year.
3. In her department's 2009/10 Annual Report, the Minister provides a list of international trips she took in her capacity as Minister, but it does not mention this trip to Sweden.
The Public Protector's report on Sicelo Shiceka said that "Mr Shiceka travelled to Switzerland under false pretences and at state expense. In so doing, Mr Shiceka violated the provisions of paragraph 2.3 of the Executive Ethics Code. His actions were accordingly unlawful and constituted maladministration, dishonesty in respect of public money and improper conduct."
We strongly suspect that Minister Joemat-Pettersson has also travelled to Sweden under false pretences and at state expense, violating the Executive Ethics Code. It is imperative that we find out the truth about this matter.
Today I will be writing to the Swedish Minister of Rural Affairs, Eskil Erlandsson - who is Joemat-Pettersson's ministerial counterpart in Sweden - to ask if she did actually meet "counterparts and discuss possible investment opportunities."
I will also ask further parliamentary questions to find out who the Minister met with in Sweden, what hotel she stayed at, and what outcomes were achieved through her efforts. I will also relay this information to the Public Protector, who is currently investigating the Minister for violating the Executive Ethics Code and the Constitution.
Statement issued by Lourie Bosman MP, DA Shadow Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, November 13 2011
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