Apparently Deputy President, Kgalema Motlanthe thinks it’s okay to use public money to foot the bill for transport and security costs of his Seychelles Christmas vacation. And according to Motlanthe, the use of public money was in line with government policy.

Democratic Alliance MP, David Maynier posed a question to Motlanthe in the National Assembly, to which Motlanthe responded that between 23 December 2012 and 3 January 2013 he had not performed official duties but was vacationing in the Seychelles.

Maynier responded:

It is simply wrong for Deputy President Motlanthe to have used public funds to pay for part of his vacation in the Seychelles, when so many people in our country are living in poverty.

Motlanthe reportedly chartered a Falcon 900 aircraft – which is operated by SA Air Forces VIP squadron – to transport him and other passengers from Waterkloof airforce base to Mahe Island International Airport on 23 December. He then chartered a Cessna Caravan aricraft – supplied by South African defence department – on the same day from Mahe airport to Desroches Island (Seychelles).

Deputy President Motlanthe, together with a number of passengers, stayed at Desroches Island Resort, which is advertised as one of Forbes Top Ten Remote Destinations in the World.

According to Maynier, the cost of chartering both aircraft could be as high as R1 million. But according to Motlanthe:

In terms of government policy, transport for the deputy president, whether for official or private purposes, was the responsibility of the state.

The state also has a duty to provide security for the deputy president at all times, whether he is engaged in official duties, or while he is on leave.

The South African Police Service is responsible for ground transport security while the South African National Defence Force is responsible for the security of air transport.

[Source: News 24]