Is government blowing our budget on unnecessary overseas trips?

Clement Manyathela (in for Bongani Bingwa on 702) speaks with Dr Harlan Cloete, research fellow at the University of the Free State.

Listen below:

The Department of Social Development recently spent R1-million of taxpayer money on a trip to New York for social worker Sizakele Magangoe.

She was just one member of a government delegation visiting New York for the UN Commission on the Status of Women.

Back home, countless South Africans are suffering through poverty, poor service delivery, and budget cuts while there is excessive spending on these trips.

This has some asking whether we get our money’s worth from these trips, or if the same results could be achieved at a fraction of the cost with smaller delegations or remote participation.

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Cloete says it is important for South Africa to attend these conferences, but the cost of this trip is concerning, especially if the department is not open about the expenses.

“It would appear from the article that the delegates chose the most expensive hotel and to fly business class... Those are the things that are worrying.” 

- Dr Harlan Cloete, research fellow at the University of the Free State (IN: 04:48)

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