Johannesburg - The former ANC-led City of Joburg administration spent R190 million in travel in three years - and that is coming to an end.
This was the warning of mayor Herman Mashaba who said that this misuse of public money is “deplorable” and should be condemned in the strongest terms.
“This could only have happened in an environment where travel opportunities were handed out to too many people, groups indulged in excessive luxury and, they had no regard for the value of travel to the residents of the city. This is coming to an immediate end,” he said.
Mashaba said he had written to the city manager, Trevor Fowler, requesting that the following steps are immediately taken to curb further abuse of public money on travel.
* All international travel conducted by any representative of the city, which incurs expenditure for the city, must be approved directly by him in his capacity as executive mayor. This will be considered on a cost/benefit analysis to the residents of the city.
* A plan must be developed that will see costs of travel reduced drastically by focusing on the following elements:
- The size of the delegation traveling overseas;
- The class of hotel accommodation;
- The length of stay relative to the duration of the commitment;
- The class of travel on international and domestic travel; and
- Any possible travel allowances that may be afforded.
“I am confident that, with the enforcement of a strict travel policy that seeks to limit the costs of travel, this new administration will be able to save millions each year and ensure that we can fulfil two important requirements - representing our city overseas at critical events that bring value to our city, as well as curbing expenditure spent on luxuries that can be redirected for the benefit of our residents,” he said.
Mashaba said the city should value certain international travel as a means to foster relations and encourage investment which will facilitate job creation – “the number one priority of my administration”.
“I pledge to only authorise international travel that will produce direct returns in terms of investment in our city and which meets our international obligations. Gone are the days of luxury for self-serving political leadership in our city,” he said.