South African taxpayers paid about R400 000 to send Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka and her family on holiday to the United Arab Emirates in December, Afrikaans daily newspaper Beeld reported on Tuesday.
This covered only the cost of the fuel for their Falcon 900 flight to Abu Dhabi and Dubai, the newspaper claimed. It did not include the accommodation and other costs of the flight crew and bodyguards who made up the group of 12.
Reacting to the claim, presidential spokesperson Murphy Morobe confirmed to Beeld that Mlambo-Ngcuka had not been on official business and was with her family. He would not confirm how many officials accompanied them.
She is entitled to such transport in terms of Cabinet guidelines and the cost will be covered by the presidential budget. Accommodation and other related costs were at her own expense. — Sapa