Ministers are wasting YOUR money on exorbitant luxury travel – ActionSA

702's Bongani Bingwa is joined by ActionSA chief whip Lerato Ngobeni.

Listen below:

It’s one thing to take a trip, but not if it means taking South African taxpayers for a ride.

As South Africans are being asked to tighten their belts, some in government are jetting off (in the name of 'official business') in luxury and hiding the receipts.

Minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni is one of them. Thus far, she has refused to reveal her travel costs, instead submitting them to a secret intelligence committee. 

ActionSA says it is a blatant dodge, a slap in the face of transparency, and a total abuse of trust.

"The money being spent by the executive is yours and mine. It is taxpayers' money!"

- Lerato Ngobeni, Chief Whip - ActionSA 

Ngobeni says while the party has no issue with legitimate costs associated with things like overseas travel for ministers, that must be within reason.

"It seems exorbitant... the issue with the Deputy President."

- Lerato Ngobeni, Chief Whip - ActionSA 

Deputy President Paul Mashatile has denied misuse of state funds, despite having taken up office almost a year ago, and his overseas trips costing close to R8 million. 

A trip to Ireland and the UK cost R5 million, while R2 million was spent on four days in Japan.

Ngobeni says trips which involve a delegation of 10, 15, or even 20 people cannot possibly be justified.

"You have this huge contingent of people who travel who need accommodation, food, a car," she says.

"It really doesn't make sense why we have to spend so much money on travel in this manner."

- Lerato Ngobeni, Chief Whip - ActionSA 

Find out what more ActionSA has to say on the issue of ministers' travel costs by scrolling up and listening to the interview in the audio player.