EASTERN Cape sport, recreation, arts and culture MEC Pemmy Majodina and an entourage spent four days in the United States to hand-deliver an invitation to human rights activist, Reverend Jesse Jackson.
In September, Majodina, along with South African Traditional Music Awards (Satmas) founder Dumisani Goba, National Heritage Council CEO Sonwabile Mangcotywa and departmental officials, paid a special visit to Jackson.
Department spokesman Manzi Vabaza said the trip was not just for the delivery of an invitation but more to discuss exchange programmes that could benefit the province.
“They were introduced to some projects involving sport and youth development linked to Jackson. The MEC was also introduced to Jackson’s studio with the aim of seeing how these could be used for the benefit of the Eastern Cape Audio Visual Centre, which she is funding,” Vabaza said.
He could not state how much was spent on the trip.
A Saturday Dispatch search revealed that an economy class return ticket from Johannesburg to Chicago could have cost anything between R9000 and R15000 a person.
Majodina lambasted the Saturday Dispatch for wanting to quantify the amount of money spent in securing Jackson’s trip.
“How dare you? We had to go to Chicago physically because this is not the kind of person you send an e-mail to or just Skype. He is an international icon for his role in the fight for human rights,” she said.
“You are trying to criminalise us. We know and account for taxpayers’ money. We did not go there for a picnic, we went there for a purpose. Who are you to question us? We have a destructive media.”
After Jackson arrived at the East London Airport yesterday, he visited Kusile Comprehensive School where he encouraged young people to follow their dreams.
This year the Satmas will be hosted at the University of Fort Hare in Alice. Amathole District Municipality mayor Nomasikizi Konza said they were pleased to play hosts.
“We are happy to host Rev Jackson and the Satmas. As a people, we are honoured to have this opportunity to celebrate our heritage and culture. It is great to have an icon from abroad,” she added.
Speaking at the Audio Visual Centre yesterday, Jackson said he was happy to visit a non-racial South Africa. He went down memory lane about his interaction with the late Oliver Tambo and other struggle icons.
“I love and respect your leaders for their attitude towards the liberation of the country of South Africa,” Jackson said.
Majodina is not new to travel controversy. In 2012 she was gripped in a travel scandal after she allegedly demanded more than four times the set subsistence and travel allowance.
Costly trip to get Jackson to SA
In September, Majodina, along with South African Traditional Music Awards (Satmas) founder Dumisani Goba, National Heritage Council CEO Sonwabile Mangcotywa and departmental officials, paid a special visit to Jackson.
Department spokesman Manzi Vabaza said the trip was not just for the delivery of an invitation but more to discuss exchange programmes that could benefit the province.
“They were introduced to some projects involving sport and youth development linked to Jackson. The MEC was also introduced to Jackson’s studio with the aim of seeing how these could be used for the benefit of the Eastern Cape Audio Visual Centre, which she is funding,” Vabaza said.
He could not state how much was spent on the trip.
A Saturday Dispatch search revealed that an economy class return ticket from Johannesburg to Chicago could have cost anything between R9000 and R15000 a person.
Majodina lambasted the Saturday Dispatch for wanting to quantify the amount of money spent in securing Jackson’s trip.
“How dare you? We had to go to Chicago physically because this is not the kind of person you send an e-mail to or just Skype. He is an international icon for his role in the fight for human rights,” she said.
“You are trying to criminalise us. We know and account for taxpayers’ money. We did not go there for a picnic, we went there for a purpose. Who are you to question us? We have a destructive media.”
After Jackson arrived at the East London Airport yesterday, he visited Kusile Comprehensive School where he encouraged young people to follow their dreams.
This year the Satmas will be hosted at the University of Fort Hare in Alice. Amathole District Municipality mayor Nomasikizi Konza said they were pleased to play hosts.
“We are happy to host Rev Jackson and the Satmas. As a people, we are honoured to have this opportunity to celebrate our heritage and culture. It is great to have an icon from abroad,” she added.
Speaking at the Audio Visual Centre yesterday, Jackson said he was happy to visit a non-racial South Africa. He went down memory lane about his interaction with the late Oliver Tambo and other struggle icons.
“I love and respect your leaders for their attitude towards the liberation of the country of South Africa,” Jackson said.
Majodina is not new to travel controversy. In 2012 she was gripped in a travel scandal after she allegedly demanded more than four times the set subsistence and travel allowance.
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