Deputy Transport Minister Jeremy Cronin has described media reports, attributed to Democratic Alliance Member of Parliament (MP), Stuart
Farrow that the Department of Transport spent R75.7 million on hosting four conferences between 2007 and 2009, as mischievous and misleading.
“It is the Minister of Transport, Sibusiso Ndebele, who provided all this information to the Democratic Alliance (DA) in response to a parliamentary question. However, the manner in which the DA has communicated this information is totally mischievous and misleading. South Africa had an obligation to host all these conferences and as is the case with all such conferences, the host country is responsible for the costs.
“As government and the Department of Transport, we take our responsibility on the continent and internationally very seriously. There are many transport challenges in Africa, and it is common cause that South Africa needs to take a leading role in improving transport coordination, safety and efficiency across our continent.
“We accept that the value of all such conferences needs to be constantly assessed. All these conference were a success and the key objectives were achieved. There were also several bilateral engagements at these conferences, “said Deputy Minister Cronin.
As per the attached reply by Minister Ndebele, for the period 1 January 2006 to February 2010, the Department of Transport hosted four international conferences which included the first African Union Conference of African Ministers Responsible for Roads in October 2007 at a cost of R18.773.107.08, the first African Union Conference of Experts Responsible for Railway Transport in November 2007 at a cost of R4.169.386.02, the Special Africa-Indian Ocean Regional Air Navigation meeting in November 2008 at a cost of R26.955.074.56 and the second African Union Conference of Ministers Responsible for Maritime Transport in October 2009 at a cost of R25.821.353.15.
Between 2006 and February 2010, an amount of R75.7 million was spent on conferences which 1 800 delegates attended, including ministers and their support staff from the entire African continent.
Enquiries:
Jeremy Cronin
Tel: 021 469 6004 or 6010
Issued by: Department of Transport
10 March 2010
