Question NW2317 to the President of the Republic
05 November 2020 - NW2317
Schreiber, Dr LA to ask the President of the Republic
Whether, with reference to clause 1.3 of Chapter 6 of the November 2019 Guide for Members of the Executive and the media statement by his Office on 1 October 2020 , he intends taking any further action against the Minister for failing to comply with the specified guidelines for international travel; if not, why not; if so, what action will he be taking against her for contravening the explicit provisions of the guidelines by undertaking an unauthorised international trip at taxpayer expense; (2) whether he was informed of the passengers who would accompany the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans on her 8 September 2020 trip to Zimbabwe; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, (3) whether he will furnish Dr L A Schreiber with a copy of (a) the written request submitted by the Minister and (b) his written letter of approval approving the specified trip; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details? NW2890E
Reply:
The international trip undertaken by the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans was approved by me on 8 September 2020. As I was not in Gauteng at the time of the receipt of the request, the approval was verbal and the relevant documentation was signed as soon as possible thereafter.
While the request did not comply with the requirement in the Guide for Members of the Executive that requests should be made at least two weeks prior to departure, this is, unfortunately, not an uncommon occurrence due to the pressures of state work.
I do not intend to take any further action. I deem the reprimand given to the Minister, the directive that three months’ salary be donated to the Solidarity Fund, and the obligation to ensure that the costs of the trip are reimbursed by the political party (which has been done) sufficient sanction.
I was informed that the Minister would be travelling with 2 support staff as listed in her written request for permission to travel to Zimbabwe, submitted to me on 7 September 2020.
The information about the request for permission to travel by the Minister as well as my approval was made public on 1 October 2020, and can be accessed on the Presidency website.