7 days ago
Controversy erupts as Thami Ntuli's New York trip costs come under scrutiny
KZN Premier Thami Ntuli finds himself in hot water over New York trip
Image: Independent Newspapers Archives
KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thami Ntuli is navigating a storm of criticism following allegations that he spent nearly one million rand of taxpayers money on an official trip to New York in September 2024.
What set tongues wagging was the allegations that the figure disclosed as the amount spent on Ntuli's trip (R600 000) was significantly higher than previously disclosed figures.
The supposed discrepancy is what sparked outrage among opposition leaders and taxpayers alike.
In response to the claims, Ntuli's spokesperson, Lindelani Mbatha, defended the integrity of the trip, describing the allegations as 'malicious' and asserted that they were aimed at distorting the truth.
According to Mbatha, the premier's trip was endorsed by the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Executive Council, focused on participating in an urgent international conference on climate change.
Mbatha explained that the importance of the trip stemmed from the catastrophic consequences the province had suffered in recent years, due to natural disasters.
Ntuli attended last year's Climate Week event, which ran from September 22 to 29,
There, he sought to forge vital international partnerships and collaboration with various stakeholders in climate action, while showcasing the province's achievements in disaster risk management and biodiversity conservation.
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'Let the record reflect that the trip to New York was an official government engagement, fully sanctioned by the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Executive Council,' Mbatha stated.
He said the trip was part of a wider initiative to secure global support and investment in renewable energy projects and climate adaptation strategies, essential for addressing the province's vulnerabilities to environmental challenges.
Despite these assurances, the controversy has prompted the matter to be escalated to the KZN Legislature's ethics committee. The committee is charged with investigating whether Ntuli's actions and the associated expenditure breached ethical standards or regulations.
The committee is expected to determine the appropriate course of action as they sift through the facts surrounding the expenditure. Mbatha reiterated that the Premier had fully accounted for the trip's details before both the Executive Council and the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature, emphasising the Premier's confidence in the legislature's ability to conduct an informed review.
He stressed the necessity of unity among all sectors of society in avoiding the spread of misinformation that could undermine public trust and democratic institutions.
'The challenges facing our province require unity, maturity, and a shared commitment to facts, truth, and constructive engagement,' he stated.
'The premier remains focused on the urgent task of rebuilding public trust and ensuring that KwaZulu-Natal continues to move forward guided by transparency and accountability.
The ANC provincial spokesperson Fanle Sibisi said that his party had noted the reports concerning the alleged R1 million expenditure by the Premier during his official trip to the US.
Sibisi said there was a distinct difference when it came to benchmarking and fact-finding missions as standard practices for refining government policy approaches.
'While we understand the public's concern about the trip's cost, we believe it would be inappropriate to draw conclusions or take a stance on this matter without all relevant facts.
"To this end, the ANC welcomed the fact that, following these reports, the circumstances surrounding this trip, including the costs, are being investigated by the Legislature's Ethics Committee.
"We trust that, during its review, the ethics committee will also examine whether this trip adhered to the Ministerial Handbook and the requirements of the austerity measures. It is only then that the ANC will provide a comment,' he said.
Attempts to reach the DA's provincial leader, Francois Rogers, who is the Finance MEC in KZN were not successful at the time of publication.
DAILY NEWS
