Just six months after Nelson Mandela Bay Mayor Gary van Niekerk came under fire for a trip to China which cost ratepayers approximately R400 000, he has taken a second trip to the country this week which has cost a whopping R450 000.
The first citizen of the metro in the Eastern Cape and his deputy, Babalwa Lobishe, departed for China on Sunday and are expected to only return at the end of the week.
According to the mayor's spokesperson, Kupido Baron, Van Niekerk, and Lobishe were attending the Maritime Silk Road Port Cooperation Forum (MPF) in Ningbo between 26 and 28 June.