G20: Maimane says hosting budget must be laid bare

Chairperson of Parliament’s Appropriations Committee Mmusi Maimane wants government to lay bare the budget of hosting the G20 over the past year.

Maimane says while the G20 has been an opportunity for South Africa to put its best foot forward on the global stage, the committee has a responsibility to probe public finances.

Earlier this month, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana topped up the G20 budget with an additional R100 million through the mid-term budget to host the final event.

This after the Department of International Relations told Parliament’s portfolio committee in September it had a shortfall on the R700 million budget.

Maimaine says he has already written to the finance minister to seek clarity on the costs of the G20.

The leaders’ summit is underway in Johannesburg this weekend, with the meeting of world leaders set to wrap up South Africa’s presidency.

Maimane says questioning the budget is not meant o diminish the significance of the event as a platform to advocate for global issues of inequality.

“It is also crucial that government is not given a blank cheque on South Africans’ money, to be able to spend on this event, and therefore it’s going to be important as national treasury to account for these funds.” Maimane said.

He says it’s time treasury accounts for how the money has been spent and whether the spending has been above board.