Communications Department R104 million

Former and current Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies; Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams and Khumbudzo Ntshavheni. Images via Twitter.@bbinfraco and Flickr.

Communications Department ‘blows’ R104m on entertainment while Post Office crumbles

The Department of Communications spent a staggering R104 million on entertainment while the Post Office and SABC crumble.

Communications Department R104 million

Former and current Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies; Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams and Khumbudzo Ntshavheni. Images via Twitter.@bbinfraco and Flickr.

While staff at the South African Post Office (SAPO) had a miserable festive season with no medical aid, the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies blew R104 million on catering, travel, and entertainment. 

The figure was revealed in response to a parliamentary question submitted by the Democratic Alliance (DA). 

COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT ‘BLOWS’ TAXPAYERS MONEY

The DA has accused the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies of facilitating the crumbling of and large-scale corruption and fraud at the South African Post Office (SAPO), the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), and various other entities within the department.

The party said the South African Post Office is on the verge of collapse, with post offices closing all over the country and a Hawks investigation into misappropriation of the employee benefit payments.  

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Furthermore, the party said the SABC continues to show zero sign of turning its ship around after its annual report revealed that the corporation incurred R2.8 billion in irregular, fruitless and wasteful expenditure. 

“Despite claims it had succeeded, the debt of the SABC is again soaring with a predicted loss of R608 million.”

DA
Communications Department R104 million
Former Communications Minister Stella Ndabeni Abrahams in Parliament. Image: Twitter.com/stellarated

HERE’S HOW THE DEPARTMENT SPENT TAXPAYER’S MONEY:

  • R 5 766 952.89 on catering
  • R 28 119 012.23 on accommodation
  • R 80 524.75 on entertainment
  • R 70 610 099.10 on travel

Totalling an amount of R 104 576 588.97 for the past four financial years. Equalling about R26 million per annum.

DA Shadow Minister of Communications Dianne Kohler-Barnard questioned how the department justified spending millions on travel, accommodation, entertainment, and catering in a period of hard Covid-19 lockdowns.

“The DA will immediately submit follow-up questions to the department to find out how R104 million was reached and why they chose to spend the money on perks rather than on the medical aid of their staff, pensions, or UIF,” Kohler-Barnard said. 

Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams was the Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies until July 2021 and Khumbudzo Ntshaveni was her successor. 

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