Cope on Saturday labelled Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa’s claim of being unaware of the high cost of staying at a five star hotel as ”transparent”.
Congress of the People spokesperson Phillip Dexter said Mthethwa’s ”convenient ignorance” of the accommodation cost in Cape Town was a transparent attempt to prey on the ”gullibility of the public”.
”His call for a travel and accommodation policy to prevent unnecessary expenditure in the future is nothing more than a smokescreen to dilute his degree of personal responsibility in decision making,” Dexter said in a statement.
”Surely common sense is more than an adequate substitute for want of policy document.”
The minister reportedly spent 17 days at the luxurious Table Bay Hotel at a cost of R235 000 because his home was being renovated after flood damage.
Mthethwa, through his spokesperson, Zweli Mnisi, later claimed he was unaware of the high prices charged by the hotel.
”Ignorance is no defence. It would be a grave injustice if he was not called to make amends for his irresponsibility,” said Dexter.
He called on Mthethwa to personally reimburse the government for the full amount invoiced for his ”irresponsible” splurge. – Sapa