CAPE TOWN– South African Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene has revealed that 800,000 Rand (about 63,500 US dollars) were spent on international trips for the wife of his predecessor, Malusi Gigaba.

Noma Gigaba had accompanied her husband when he performed official travels to investor roadshows in New York and Asia, Nene told Parliament in a reply to a written question from the Democratic Alliance (DA), South Africa’s main opposition party.

Nene said part of the money was for air travel and daily allowance.

The DA’s spokesperson on finance, David Maynier, said it was ironic that the Cabinet Minister who raised the rate of Value Added Tax (VAT) had spent huge sums of money on his wife.

Noma Gigaba had no official duty on investor roadshows and tax payers who have been pushed to the limit should never have to cough up for what were in reality a series of inter-continental shopping trips. In the end, even if the expenses are in line with the ministerial handbook, it’s simple wrong, and I think the minister must pay back the money.

Gigaba is now the Minister of Home Affairs (Interior).

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK