Question NW762 to the Minister of Trade and Industry
29 March 2016 - NW762
Macpherson, Mr DW to ask the Minister of Trade and Industry
With reference to his reply to question 527 on 10 March 2016, (a) which class of travel did Ms Philisiwe Mthethwa use to travel to Cape Town for the specified event and (b) which key stakeholders did she meet with on the side-lines of the specified event for the benefit of the implementation of the mandate of the National Empowerment Fund?
Reply:
Ms Philisiwe Mthethwa attended the budget vote on 24 February 2016, at the invitation of the National Treasury.
The total cost of her attendance to the event was R7 419.44 which was for her Business Class return flight. The NEF did not incur any car rental or accommodation costs for this trip as the CEO stayed at the official residence of her husband and did not hire a car at the NEF’s expense.
It should be noted that the CEO combined her attendance of this event with other meetings that relate to her role, including meetings with the Minister of Rural Development and Land Reform, the Hon. Mr Gugile Nkwinti (MP), the Minister of Labour, the Hon. Ms Mildred Oliphant (MP), as well as representatives of a rural community who have approached the NEF for development funding.
In her capacity as the CEO, Ms Mthethwa always looks for opportunities where she can efficiently and effectively engage with NEF stakeholders. The stature of the budget speech event is such that it brings various strategic stakeholders together in a central place. She therefore used the opportunity to engage with key stakeholders on the sides of the event, for the benefit of the implementation of the mandate of the NEF.