Latest news with #OUTA
IOL News
3 days ago
- Politics
- IOL News
Mashatile, Ministers under fire for R200 million travel bill, including R900,000 Japan stay
The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA) has thrown its support behind a new bill aimed at reining in unchecked benefits for ministers. Image: Supplied Ministers in the Government of National Unity (GNU) have spent more than R200 million in travel expenses since assuming office last year, ActionSA revealed. The party said this figure was compiled through its GNU Performance Tracker, following the latest replies to our parliamentary questions submitted to every Minister, including the President, Deputy President, and the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture. This painted a damning picture of executive indulgence at a time of deep economic crisis, ActionSA said in a statement. This week, the party revealed that Deputy President Paul Mashatile and his staff have incurred over R2 million in travel-related expenses for transport and accommodation since last year This included spending over R900,000 on just four nights' accommodation in Japan. In a written reply, Mashatile said all these occurred due to his international trips: to Ireland, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and, recently, Japan. He stood in for President Cyril Ramaphosa on other trips. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ In addition to this, Sports Minister, Gayton McKenzie, and his department have spent about R6.6 million on international travel. Among the most shocking items is a R164,556 payment for a trip to Burkina Faso that never took place. 'Not only is this spending exorbitant, but it is riddled with red flags, gaps, and inconsistencies,' it added. ActionSA said the public paid for flights and accommodation for an event that was ultimately abandoned, a textbook case of wasteful expenditure, as defined by the Public Finance Management Act. Defending his ministry, McKenzie said it would not be right to expect ministers not to fly business class on long flights. In a statement, ActionSA MP Alan Beesley condemned these as wasteful expenditures, saying that it was enough to build a decent home for a family in need for each night they spent in luxury. 'South Africans deserve leadership that puts people before perks and not an R200 million travel spree by the world's largest cabinet,' Beesley said.
IOL News
30-04-2025
- Automotive
- IOL News
SIU to investigate OUTA's roadworthy certificate fraud claims
Motorists make their way through the Mariannhill toll plaza to return home after the Easter holidays in KwaZulu-Natal. The Special Investigating Unit is to investigate allegations related to fraudulent roadworthy certificates. Picture: Doctor Ngcobo Independent Newspapers Image: Doctor Ngcobo Independent Newspapers The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) will investigate widespread corruption in the issuing of fraudulent roadworthy certificates, following the release of a damning report by the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA). The report alleges that vehicles which failed inspections in Gauteng were mysteriously issued roadworthy certificates by vehicle testing stations in Limpopo and North West sometimes in as little as 30 minutes. OUTA has made the report public, citing overwhelming public interest. 'We cannot improve road safety while corruption at testing stations goes unchecked,' said Rudie Heyneke, OUTA's senior project manager. 'Issuing and accepting fraudulent roadworthy certificates is a criminal offence that has a direct impact on road deaths.' Minister of Transport Barbara Creecy has since referred the report to the SIU, where the findings will be included under the current investigation into the Department of Transport's affairs, as outlined in Proclamation 191 of 2024. Collen Msibi, spokesperson for the Minister, said provincial authorities must act. 'Provinces will have to take remedial action. These fall under their watch,' Msibi said. 'The National Department is a policy-making department. But we are working closely with the MECs and the police on this matter.' Msibi expressed confidence in the SIU's ability to deal with the matter decisively: 'We've seen results through the SIU investigations on fraudulent licenses in the past.' Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕
