Cape Town – ActionSA has accused ministers in South Africa’s Government of National Unity (GNU) of excessive and wasteful spending, alleging that nearly R450 million has been spent on travel and accommodation in the first 18 months since taking office.
In a statement issued on Saturday, ActionSA MP Alan Beesley said the figure could rise above R500 million once all outstanding parliamentary replies are submitted.
The party said the data was compiled using its GNU Performance Tracker and responses to parliamentary questions.
“At a time of deep economic crisis, with 12 million South Africans unemployed and essential public services severely lacking, this level of spending reflects an alarming profligacy and an out-of-touch misuse of taxpayer funds,” Beesley said.
According to ActionSA, the biggest spenders include the Department of Human Settlements under Minister Thembi Simelane, which allegedly spent R32.98 million, followed by Water and Sanitation under Pemmy Majodina at R29.57 million.
The Department of Women, Youth and People with Disabilities spent R25.27 million, while Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment spent R24.41 million. The Presidency, under President Cyril Ramaphosa, spent R24.17 million.
ActionSA reveals that Ministers in the GNU have racked up nearly R450 million in travel and accommodation expenses in their first 18 months in office, a figure that is set to balloon beyond R500 million as outstanding parliamentary replies are finalised. https://t.co/rmtynOR33F
— John Moodey (@john_moodey) January 11, 2026
ActionSA further highlighted what it described as “grossly disproportionate” travel costs for short international trips. Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau’s office reportedly spent R2.12 million on a three-night trip to New York in September 2024, followed by R1.5 million for a one-week visit to Washington DC in July 2024.
Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi was also cited, with ActionSA claiming his office incurred R2.75 million for a seven-night visit to New York, R1.33 million for a two-day trip to Brazil and R1.18 million for a week-long visit to the United Kingdom.
The party said Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga’s office spent nearly R5 million on international air tickets alone since she assumed office.
Beesley accused several ministers of failing to cooperate fully with parliamentary oversight.
“Evasiveness in the responses to ActionSA’s parliamentary questions reveal a consistent pattern of disregard within the Cabinet for Parliament’s constitutional oversight role and the public’s right to transparency,” he said.
The Blue Light don’t come cheap.
GNU Cabinet Ministers have already spent R450 million in just 18 months in office on flying around the country excluding accommodation and food.
Over 200 000 RDP Houses.
Over 800 000 Bantu South Africans would have a place call home not Street. pic.twitter.com/hDM2NJuBqx
— Sesinga Mavikithi (@themankhosi) January 11, 2026
Among those named were the Minister in the Presidency, who allegedly withheld travel details citing security concerns, and Deputy President Paul Mashatile, who reportedly declined to provide updated figures after ActionSA exposed costs linked to his Japan trip, including more than R900,000 for four nights of hotel accommodation.
ActionSA also alleged that Public Works Minister Dean Macpherson and Communications and Digital Technologies Minister Solly Malatsi allowed questions to lapse, while other ministers delayed or provided incomplete responses.
The party further claimed deputy ministers were equally implicated in excessive spending. Deputy Minister Zuko Godlimpi allegedly spent more than R650,000 on local car rentals in eight months, while the deputy minister in the Department of Health spent R1.05 million on a four-day trip to Japan.
“It is precisely this culture of executive waste and evasiveness that ActionSA seeks to end,” Beesley said.
He added that the party had introduced legislation to curb ministerial perks and proposed a constitutional amendment to abolish all deputy minister positions.
“South Africans deserve leadership that puts people before perks and not a R450 million travel spree by the world’s largest cabinet,” Beesley said.
“We will continue to expose waste, demand accountability and fight for an ethical government that respects every cent of the people’s money.”
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Source: AFP
