ActionSA calculations claim government ministers racked up international travel bill of almost R450 million

Calculations made by opposition party ActionSA revealed that government ministers have racked up an international travel bill of almost R450 million since the start of the new administration eighteen months ago.

With Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni refusing to disclose her travel costs, the tracker puts Minister of Human Settlements Thembi Simelane as the biggest spender, followed by Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina.

The party said that the costs back up the need for two of its bills to be considered by Parliament in 2026 to curb perks for ministers, and to do away with deputy ministers.

At least four ministers have spent more than President Cyril Ramaphosa and International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola on international travel, including the axed former forestry, fisheries and the environment minister, Democratic Alliance (DA) Member of Parliament (MP) Dion George, and Minister of Women Sindi Chikunga.

They have each spent between R24 million and R32 million on their travel since June 2024.

The information includedin ActionSA’s government performance tracker, which it launched in 2025, has been obtained through written parliamentary questions the party has doggedly been putting to ministers.

The party’s Alan Beesley said given gross economic disparity and hunger in the country, government should be putting people before perks.

“It is clear that this bloated Cabinet of the GNU is travelling further, more often and in more luxury. This level of luxury spending and the luxury lifestyle of the executive is outrageous and immoral.”

The party also highlighted what it believes to be excessive expenditure in relation to travel duration and public value.

This includes the more than R2 million spent by Trade Minister Parks Tau for just three nights in New York in September 2024, followed by an additional R1.5 million for a week in Washington.

Meanwhile, Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi spent R2.75 million for a seven-night stay in New York in September 2025 and a further R1.3 million for just two days in Brazil.