Question NW230 to the Minister of Public Enterprises

Reply:

DPE:

SEE “ANNEXURE 1” (A to H).

ESKOM:

(a)

For the DPE to respond.

(b)

Yes, Eskom employees used business class ticket for flights in the period from 1 January 2010 to 13 November 2017. 

Although Eskom has records of flights prior to 1 January 2015, the records have not been consolidated and are, therefore, not readily available. The exercise to extract, consolidate, and verify these records is extensive and will take eight months to complete.

(b)(i)(ii)(iv)

Annexure A provides (i) the names of the employees and (ii) the flight route.

(b)(iii)

The travel agency that was used to book the flights from January 2015 to 13 November 2017 is Travel with Flair (TWF).

(b)(iv)

Annexure A provides (iv) the cost of each business class ticket.

(b)(v)

Yes, the spend on these flights complies with the cost-cutting measures and regulations of National Treasury, the DPE, and the Auditor-General of South Africa.

(b)(v)(vii)

Annexure B provides (v) the purpose of each flight and (vii) the approver of the trip and payment in each case.

 

SAX:

(1)(b)(i)    The Travel Policy of South African Express allows only the Chief Executive Officer to travel business class.The official who travelled  are:

Ms Siza Mzimela  

Mr Inati Ntshanga                                                                                           

Mr Victor Xaba                                                                                                                       

Ms Matsietsi Mokholo

(ii)        Various destinations on domestic and international routes.

(iii)      No travel agency was used to book the flights; SA Express utilises its own in-house commercial department for duty travel bookings.

(iv)      The ticket prices of referred travels by SA Express Airways CEO’s were on tickets that are on airline to airline duty travel arrangements.

(2)(a)  South African Express only pays for taxes and levies.

(2)(b)  Approval for travel at SA Express is granted by the General Manager:  Human Capital.

 

TRANSNET:

This response is according to information received from Transnet:   (1)(a)            Responses from DPE, Alexkor, Denel, Eskom, Safcol and SAX were submitted and signed. (1)(b)(i)         Yes. There were many passengers that travelled business class for the period 01 Jan 2010 until 31 October 2017.   (1)(b)(ii)        There were various routes travelled and the major routes were China, USA, Maputo, Germany, Frankfurt, Sau Paulo, London, Canada, Berlin, Mozambique, Dubai, Hong Kong, Kenya, Munich – Germany, Sao Paulo – Brazil, Frankfurt – Germany, Lagos – Nigeria, Zurich – Switzerland.     (1)(b)(iii)           For the period 01 January 2010 to 31 December 2010 Tourvest T/A Amex was used.   For the period around 01 Jan 2011 to 31 May 2014 - Tourvest T/A Seekers was used, and   For the period 01 June 2014 until current Travel with Flair was used.   (1)(b)(iv)            The total amount paid for business class trips for the period 01 Jan 2010 until 31 October 2017 is estimated to be around R142 million.   (1)(b) (v)            All travel relates to operations, various conferences, investor relations and  international roadshows.   (2) (a)                Yes. (2) (b)              Line managers approved all the travel in line with the Transnet Delegation of Approval for Business Travel.                             More information is attached as “Annexure A”.