BusinessLive reports that Mphumzi Mdekazi, a senior aide of former human settlements, water and sanitation minister Lindiwe Sisulu, claimed more than R1.76m on travel and accommodation in the period since May 2019.

Sisulu was moved in the recent cabinet reshuffle to become minister of tourism. The extent of Mdekazi’s claims was revealed in a written reply to a parliamentary question by Democratic Alliance (DA) human settlements spokesperson Emma Louise Powell. She pointed out in a statement that the claims for travel and accommodation were in addition to Mdekazi’s “already hyperinflated” monthly salary of R142,920 that he received as an advisory committee member for 15 days’ work a month. “That one single committee member (of the Water Services Act advisory committee) was permitted to rack up a taxpayer-funded travel and accommodation bill of R1,763,878 is simply inconceivable in the face of the devastating financial state of our nation. It furthermore makes a mockery of 13-million South Africans who continue to live in informality, many still without access to basic water and sanitation services,” said Powel. She also called on newly appointed water and sanitation minister Senzo Mchunu to immediately disband the advisory committee and initiate a formal investigation into Mdekazi’s “fat-cat” travel bill.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Linda Ensor at BusinessLive

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