Justice Minister Kubayi Deny Allegations Of Excess Travel Expenses

Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi denies the allegations of excessive government spending on travel, dismissing reports as “misleading” and “inaccurate.”

This controversy erupted after ActionSA accused Kubayi and her staff of squandering R16 million on domestic and international travel, including visits to China and the United States.

ActionSA claimed that Kubayi’s office spent R5.3 million on five international trips and an additional R11 million on “official engagements” across South Africa from July 2023 to date. The party argued that these funds could have been better allocated, stating that the amount spent could have built approximately 60 homes.

In a statement titled “R16 Million Mystery: ActionSA Exposes Human Settlements Ministry’s Shocking Travel Splurge!”, ActionSA Parliamentary Chief Whip Lerato Ngobeni criticised Kubayi for what he called reckless expenditure. He also questioned why the R11 million spent on domestic travel lacked a detailed breakdown of dates and justifications.

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“Kubayi’s response, or complete lack thereof, is a blatant insult to taxpayers. This is yet another example of an arrogant and out-of-touch executive [who] treats parliamentary oversight with contempt while recklessly burning through state resources,” Ngobeni said.

Responding, Kubayi, who transitioned from Human Settlements Minister to Justice Minister in December 2024, denied the allegations and submitted a formal request to Parliament to correct what she described as “incorrect figures.” Her spokesperson, Terrence Manase, argued that the reported figures were exaggerated and had the potential to harm Kubayi’s public reputation.

“To correct the record, Minister Kubayi has formally written to the speaker of Parliament with the accurate figures,” Manase said. He further suggested that administrative errors in government records may have led to the misleading claims.

Manase also cited an administrative mishap that led to Kubayi’s erroneous termination from the government payroll system, temporarily suspending her medical aid and other employment benefits.

Also, a significant point of contention in the report was Kubayi’s accommodation expenses. ActionSA claimed she spent R198,040 for lodging in China and R209,614 for accommodation, meals, and shuttle services over three days in San Francisco.

Kubayi’s office countered these claims, stating that her stay in China cost R13,575 per night, significantly less than the reported total.

Regarding the trip to the United States, Manase clarified that Kubayi’s stay in San Francisco for the World Economic Forum’s Urban Transformation Summit lasted four days and cost R94,400.

“The minister personally raised concerns about the travel arrangements, particularly regarding the exclusion of meals in the accommodation cost. The Department’s Chief Financial Officer was asked to review the expenses, and as a result, the final cost may be even lower than R94,400,” Manase explained.

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While Kubayi and her office have sought to clarify the spending, opposition parties continue to demand transparency and accountability. ActionSA has called for a full parliamentary inquiry into ministerial travel expenses to ensure responsible use of public funds.

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