More than R12 million. That’s the amount spent by the Department of international Relations and Co-operation on the heads of state and foreign dignitaries who attended the ANC’s 100th birthday celebrations in Mangaung.
Details of the cost to the state were revealed by the Minister of International Relations and Co-operation, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, on Thursday.
The DA has slammed the expenditure as “exorbitant”. It estimates – on the basis of the government’s figures – that almost R68 000 was spent on each foreign representative.
On December 15, just weeks before the four-day centenary bash got under way, ANC chairwoman Baleka Mbete told journalists that in hosting the event, the ANC would not use government funds.
She said, however, that the state would handle protocol arrangements for the heads of state and government who had accepted invitations.
DA MP Kenneth Mubu asked for details in a parliamentary question.
He wanted to know what amount the Department of International Relations and Co-operation had spent on accommodation, transport, protocol and entertainment for the ANC’s VIP foreign guests.
In her written reply, released on Thursday, Nkoana-Mashabane said R11 014 000 had been spent “on accommodation for 50 heads of state and government with accompanying delegations of plus two, and nine foreign eminent persons with accompanying delegations of plus one”.
A sum of R1 010 981 was spent on protocol support and logistics. This included the cost of meals provided.
A further R12 024 981 covered the costs of 29 heads of state and government, two former presidents, three vice-presidents or deputy prime ministers, 11 foreign ministers or deputy foreign ministers, eight ministers, two heads of regional or international organisations, and 21 eminent persons”, according to Nkoana-Mashabane’s reply.
There were no expenses related to transport or for entertainment.
Nkoana-Mashabane said the cabinet had decided on December 5 that the costs of hosting the foreign contingent of heads of state, government “and fraternal ruling parties” at the ANC’s “milestone anniversary” be paid for by the government.
The cabinet decision, reproduced in her reply, read: “Cabinet noted and acknowledged the historical, cultural and heritage importance of the centenary celebrations, both nationally and internationally; noted the internationally accepted protocol requiring the host, in this case the SA government, to provide the requisite support to heads of state and government who visit the country; and approved that all costs incurred… be accommodated within existing budgets of the relevant departments.
“(The Department of International Relations and Co-operation), as the national department with a mandate to engage with the rest of the world, executed the directive from cabinet.”
Nkoana-Mashabane said, without giving details, that “a number of bilateral meetings in furtherance of our foreign policy” had taken place in Mangaung.
She also said there had been lobbying for support of South Africa’s renewed bid to have Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma elected chairwoman of the African Union Commission.
DA federal chairman Dr Wilmot James said the party recognised the ANC’s heritage, its role in the struggle against apartheid and the historical importance of the centenary. But he said the amount spent seemed “exorbitant”.
“According to the reply… on average R203 813 was spent on each foreign delegation attending the event.
“Delegation sizes are indicated as being ‘plus one’ or ‘plus two’. Assuming a maximum of three members in each… this means almost R68 000 was spent on every foreign representative.
“Protocol could not possibly dictate that a country in which more than 2.5 million people live on less than $2 a day, and which has a housing backlog of two million, allocates this kind of money to… visiting heads of state.”
James questioned “how far the ANC has become removed from its historical heritage when it supports a decision that directs public money to luxuries for VIP visitors”. - Political Bureau
