National Treasury officials spent over R15-million on travel costs, hotel accommodation and restaurant expenses during the past financial year, according to Finance Minister Trevor Manuel. The year before, in 2003, they spent about the same.
This is according to a written reply by the minister to a parliamentary question, tabled on Wednesday. The question was posed by the Democratic Alliance’s finance spokesperson, Ian Davidson.
”In the 2004/05 financial year, R2,48-million [was spent] on hotel accommodation, R215 798 on restaurant expenses, and R12 62-million on travel costs,” Manuel said in his reply.
Costs so far this financial year (the date of publication of the question is June 3) were R290 889 on hotel accommodation, R9 305 on restaurant expenses and R775 150 on travel costs.
Allowance allocations at the Treasury were such that a breakdown of the cost could not be provided.
”Rennies Travel, Sure Travel and Connex Travel received payment for services for the years 2003 to 2005. Toeropa and Harvey World Travel services were only used in 2003/04,” Manuel said. – Sapa