Question NW207 to the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition
10 March 2023 - NW207
Khakhau, Ms KL to ask the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition
(1)What are the details of the (a) destination and (b) total costs for (i) accommodation, (ii) travel and (iii) any other costs incurred for international travel of each (aa) Minister and (bb) Deputy Ministers of his department since 1 June 2019; (2) what is the total cost incurred for domestic air travel for each (a) Minister and (b) Deputy Minister of his department since 1 June 2019? NW207E
Reply:
1. The Ministry undertakes international travel to carry out the core mandate on Trade, Industry and Competition. Travel is either at the request of the President, particularly for State Visits, or through our membership of global structures where South Africa’s interests have to be defended or advanced (for example in the World Trade Organisation), or meetings with investors.
In the period under question, the travel undertaken focused on the following four categories:
- Promoting African trade, investment and industrialisation.
- Meeting with major trading partners, including State Visits
- Meetings where South Africa is a member of the International Organisations.
- Travel to set out the case for investment in South Africa.
Total spending on the above will be finalised shortly and provided as an updated reply.
(2) Minister Patel’s domestic travel since 1 June 2019 amounts to R 748 328. This covers trips between the seat of Parliament (Cape Town) and the seat of the Executive (Pretoria), as well as meetings in different provinces, such as E Cape and KZN. All travel is currently in economy class, except where seats are not available.
Deputy Minister Majola’s domestic travel since 1 June 2019 amounts to R 518 460. All travel is currently in economy class, except where seats are not available.
Deputy Minister Gina’s total cost incurred for domestic travel since 1 June 2019 amounts to R1 154 770. All travel is currently in economy class, except where seats are not available.
3. The expenditure for the 2019/20 financial year was disclosed in the audited Annual Financial Statements of the former department of Trade and Industry and the expenditure for the 2020/21 and 2021/22 financial years were disclosed in the audited Annual Financial Statements Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic). The current financial year’s audited Annual Financial Statements will be available in September 2023.
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