The Democratic Alliance has criticised as ”astronomical” and ”excessive” South Africa’s expenditure on transporting a singer and band to the Asian-African Summit in Jakarta in April.
”Miriam Makeba is a South African icon, but did we need to spend half-a-million rand to transport her and her supporting band for a few days to a political conference?” asked the DA’s arts and culture spokesperson, Desiree van der Walt.
In reply to parliamentary questions posed by DA Chief Whip Douglas Gibson, Foreign Affairs Minister Nkosazana-Dlamini-Zuma revealed that South Africa contributed R598 742 to the summit, as one of its co-sponsors.
Of this, R489 500 was spent on the travel, accommodation and performance costs for Makeba and her band.
Dlamini-Zuma explained that Makeba and her band of ten musicians were retained ”in view of her status as an icon of the freedom struggle and an internationally renowned artist” after Indonesia asked South Africa to obtain the services of a local artist to perform at various events during the Asian-African Summit.
A further cost of about R98 842 was incurred for the travel and accommodation of two South African representatives at a workshop, co-chaired by South Africa, on the role of women and youth in furthering Asian-African cooperation, she said.
Van der Walt found that this also seemed to be ”an excessive amount for taxpayers to fork out for two people traveling over such a short period”. – Sapa