A cash-strapped rural municipality paid thousands of rands for two senior ANC members, one a sitting MP, to travel to Zambia for that country’s 50th jubilee celebrations last month.
He said the accommodation for the two cost R24658; which covered their stay in Zambia and two nights at OR Tambo International airport for an OR Tambo wreath laying and memorial lecture organised by the Ekurhuleni Municipality and the Adelaide and OR Tambo Foundation.
“This is not the first trip as in 2009 bused community members, traditional groups and sporting codes for these relations in Zambia, all paid for by the municipality. But we had since reduced the delegation to 10 people because of cost implications,” said Mbewu.
It was reported at the time that the municipality – under Capa’s leadership – had spent more than R3-million on the trip.
Capa’s most recent trip from Cape Town to Durban, including accommodation, cost R11133.
“The trip for was paid by because she was invited by the district municipality to do the OR Tambo memorial lecture on … she came in her personal capacity and the municipality paid flights and accommodation,” said Mbewu.
Ngcukayithobi could not be reached for comment.
Opposition councillors said they were not aware of the trip.
“The council usually takes a resolution if there is a trip to be taken outside the country. It would have been better if it were councillors who were going there,” said Mncedisi Bunzana of the UDM.
“Capa is no longer part of the municipality and Ngcukayithobi is a secretary of the ANC. It doesn’t surprise us – this is not the first time that OR Tambo funds are used for officials of political parties.”
COPE’s Mandla Gogo said the trip should have been approved by the council first.
“It is worse that they took people who are not part of the municipality. We do not even know whether they were going on a honeymoon.
“It is unacceptable and uncalled for. This needs to be investigated.” — abongilem@dispatch.co.za
ANC members' Zambia jaunt
He said the accommodation for the two cost R24658; which covered their stay in Zambia and two nights at OR Tambo International airport for an OR Tambo wreath laying and memorial lecture organised by the Ekurhuleni Municipality and the Adelaide and OR Tambo Foundation.
“This is not the first trip as in 2009 bused community members, traditional groups and sporting codes for these relations in Zambia, all paid for by the municipality. But we had since reduced the delegation to 10 people because of cost implications,” said Mbewu.
It was reported at the time that the municipality – under Capa’s leadership – had spent more than R3-million on the trip.
Capa’s most recent trip from Cape Town to Durban, including accommodation, cost R11133.
“The trip for was paid by because she was invited by the district municipality to do the OR Tambo memorial lecture on … she came in her personal capacity and the municipality paid flights and accommodation,” said Mbewu.
Ngcukayithobi could not be reached for comment.
Opposition councillors said they were not aware of the trip.
“The council usually takes a resolution if there is a trip to be taken outside the country. It would have been better if it were councillors who were going there,” said Mncedisi Bunzana of the UDM.
“Capa is no longer part of the municipality and Ngcukayithobi is a secretary of the ANC. It doesn’t surprise us – this is not the first time that OR Tambo funds are used for officials of political parties.”
COPE’s Mandla Gogo said the trip should have been approved by the council first.
“It is worse that they took people who are not part of the municipality. We do not even know whether they were going on a honeymoon.
“It is unacceptable and uncalled for. This needs to be investigated.” — abongilem@dispatch.co.za
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