Question NW1840 to the Minister of Trade and Industry
07 June 2018 - NW1840
Krumbock, Mr GR to ask the Minister of Trade and Industry
(1)Whether (a) his spouse and/or (b) an adult family member accompanied him on any official international trip (i) in each of the past five financial years and (ii) since 1 April 2018; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what (aa) is the name of the person(s), (bb) was the (aaa) purpose and (bbb) destination of the trip and (cc) was the (aaa) total cost and (bbb) detailed breakdown of the costs of the accompanying person(s) to his department; (2) whether each of the specified trips were approved by the President in terms of the provisions of Section 1, Annexure A of the Ministerial Handbook; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details
Reply:
(1); (a), (b) (i)(ii); (aa) (bb), (aaa) (bbb),
The provisions for international official journeys for members of the executive and their spouses (alternatively one adult family member) are set out in Chapter 6, section 2 of the Ministerial Handbook. The provisions provide for an accompanying spouse or adult family member on international official journeys undertaken by a member of the executive.
No adult family member other than the Members spouse, Mrs Davies, accompanied the Member on official international duties.
In the past five financial years and the period from April 2018, the Member completed 66 official international work trips and was accompanied by his spouse on 8 occasions at an average cost of R53 037,50.
The purpose of the international work was to promote South African trade and investment interests. Details of the various international work undertaken by the executive member can be found in the dti Annual Reports, various reports to the Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry, reports in the media and the dti website, amongst others.
The provisions in the Ministerial Handbook also provide for the personal staff in a Ministry to accompany the executive member on official travel abroad. During the period under review, staff from the personal office rarely accompanied the executive member on official travel abroad.
(2) There is no provision in the Handbook that requires the President to approve spousal travel.