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IOL News
12-06-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
South African ministers spend over R200 million on travel in a time of crisis
Deputy President Paul Mashatile's trip to Japan trip has sparked debate over the R900,000 accommodation costs which has drawn scrutiny amid rising concerns over government travel spending. "A DISTURBING pattern of unchecked luxury", is what ActionSA accused the ministers in the Government of National Unity for having spent over R200 million on travel since stepping into office a year ago. The party was reacting to supposed spurge of the government officials in question, having considered data provided by the party's GNU Performance Tracker, based on replies to parliamentary questions. The questions were posed to all ministers - including President Cyril Ramaphosa, Deputy President Paul Mashatile, and the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, who emerged as the big hitters. "This paints a damning picture of executive indulgence at a time of deep economic crisis,' ActionSA said in a statement, calling the trend 'a disturbing pattern of unchecked luxury and weak oversight.' At the centre of the controversy is Mashatile, whose office confirmed spending over R2 million on transport and accommodation for official duties. Four international trips undertaken on behalf of Ramaphosa have cost the state more than R7.9 million, including visits to Ireland, the UK, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Japan. One trip, a four-night visit to Tokyo in March 2025, drew particular criticism after it was revealed that accommodation alone cost more than R900,000 - approximately R225 000 a day. McKenzie and his department have spent around R6.6 million on international travel, including a R164,556 payment for a cancelled trip to Burkina Faso, raising questions about financial oversight. Amid ongoing public debate, IOL News compiled a detailed breakdown of luxury hotel costs in Tokyo. While the R900,000 figure raised eyebrows, analysis suggests such expenses are possible in one of the world's most expensive cities, especially when top-tier hotels and executive suites are involved. However, the costs have fuelled public concern over whether officials are appropriately balancing international representation with fiscal responsibility.
IOL News
12-06-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
South African ministers spend over R200 million on travel in a time of crisis
Deputy President Paul Mashatile's trip to Japan trip has sparked debate over the R900,000 accommodation costs which has drawn scrutiny amid rising concerns over government travel spending. "A DISTURBING pattern of unchecked luxury", is what ActionSA accused the ministers in the Government of National Unity for having spent over R200 million on travel since stepping into office a year ago. The party was reacting to supposed spurge of the government officials in question, having considered data provided by the party's GNU Performance Tracker, based on replies to parliamentary questions. The questions were posed to all ministers - including President Cyril Ramaphosa, Deputy President Paul Mashatile, and the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, who emerged as the big hitters. "This paints a damning picture of executive indulgence at a time of deep economic crisis,' ActionSA said in a statement, calling the trend 'a disturbing pattern of unchecked luxury and weak oversight.' At the centre of the controversy is Mashatile, whose office confirmed spending over R2 million on transport and accommodation for official duties. Four international trips undertaken on behalf of Ramaphosa have cost the state more than R7.9 million, including visits to Ireland, the UK, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Japan. One trip, a four-night visit to Tokyo in March 2025, drew particular criticism after it was revealed that accommodation alone cost more than R900,000 - approximately R225 000 a day. McKenzie and his department have spent around R6.6 million on international travel, including a R164,556 payment for a cancelled trip to Burkina Faso, raising questions about financial oversight. Amid ongoing public debate, IOL News compiled a detailed breakdown of luxury hotel costs in Tokyo. While the R900,000 figure raised eyebrows, analysis suggests such expenses are possible in one of the world's most expensive cities, especially when top-tier hotels and executive suites are involved. However, the costs have fuelled public concern over whether officials are appropriately balancing international representation with fiscal responsibility.
IOL News
12-06-2025
- Business
- IOL News
R900,000 for four nights? IOL crunches the numbers on Mashatile's Tokyo accomodation
Deputy President Paul Mashatile's trip to Japan trip has sparked debate over the R900,000 accommodation costs which has drawn scrutiny amid rising concerns over government travel spending. Ministers in South Africa's Government of National Unity (GNU) have spent more than R200 million on travel since taking office last year, according to figures released by ActionSA. The data, compiled through the party's GNU Performance Tracker, is based on replies to parliamentary questions posed to all ministers - including President Cyril Ramaphosa, Deputy President Paul Mashatile, and the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie. "This paints a damning picture of executive indulgence at a time of deep economic crisis,' ActionSA said in a statement, calling the trend 'a disturbing pattern of unchecked luxury and weak oversight.' At the centre of the controversy is Mashatile, whose office confirmed spending over R2 million on transport and accommodation for official duties. Four international trips undertaken on behalf of Ramaphosa have cost the state more than R7.9 million, including visits to Ireland, the UK, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Japan. One trip, a four-night visit to Tokyo in March 2025, drew particular criticism after it was revealed that accommodation alone cost more than R900,000 - approximately R225 000 a day. McKenzie and his department have spent around R6.6 million on international travel, including a R164,556 payment for a cancelled trip to Burkina Faso, raising questions about financial oversight. Amid ongoing public debate, IOL News compiled a detailed breakdown of luxury hotel costs in Tokyo. While the R900,000 figure raised eyebrows, analysis suggests such expenses are possible in one of the world's most expensive cities, especially when top-tier hotels and executive suites are involved. However, the costs have fuelled public concern over whether officials are appropriately balancing international representation with fiscal responsibility.
IOL News
05-06-2025
- Business
- IOL News
MultiChoice expects improved earnings despite tough trading conditions
MultiChoice, South Africa's leading pay-TV operator, has warned shareholders of a significant shift in its financial performance for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2025, driven by challenging macro-economic conditions and structural changes in the video entertainment industry across sub-Saharan Africa. MultiChoice, South Africa's leading pay-TV operator, has warned shareholders of a significant shift in its financial performance for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2025, driven by challenging macro-economic conditions and structural changes in the video entertainment industry across sub-Saharan Africa. It said, "The current period has seen the continuation of unprecedented financial disruption for economies, corporates and consumers across sub-Saharan Africa due to several macro-economic factors, including weaker average exchange rates, elevated inflation and interest rates, and power supply challenges. "Combined with the impact of structural industry changes in video entertainment, such as the rise of piracy, streaming services and social media, as well as the cost of investing in Showmax, this has materially affected the performance of the MultiChoice Group. The group has acted decisively to counter these headwinds by, focusing on key areas within its control such as maintaining inflationary pricing discipline, growing new revenue streams and driving further efficiencies to manage costs and cash flows," the group said. In a trading statement released on Thursday, MultiChoice projected a recovery in earnings per share (EPS), forecasting an increase of 128% to 132% compared to a loss of 935 cents per share in the prior year This translates to an expected EPS range of R12.62 - R12.94 per share. The group said it expects to report positive earnings per share due to the recognition of a profit on the sale of a 60% shareholding in NMS Insurance Services (NMSIS) to Sanlam Life Insurance Limited in November 2024, and a downward adjustment to the Showmax put option liability. Similarly, the group expects the headline loss per share (which excludes the profit on the sale of NMSIS) to narrow year-on-year. Headline earnings per share are expected to rise between 62% to 66%, in a range of between R4.43 - R4.72 per share, compared to a loss of 715c per share the prior year. Trading profit (reported) from R7.9 billion is likely to fall between 47% to 51%. MultiChoice said, "The ongoing investment in the Showmax streaming business, which remains at an early stage of development and has yet to scale into its cost base, is expected to result in the group reporting a lower trading profit. On an organic basis (excluding the effects of foreign currency and group composition changes), the decline in trading profit is expected to be much smaller." Trading profit (reported) was expected to fall by between 47% to 51% from R7.9 billion. BUSINESS REPORT
The Citizen
17-05-2025
- Health
- The Citizen
Motsoaledi: SA's HIV programme ‘not collapsing' following US aid cuts
Health Minister, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, has refuted claims that the country's HIV/AIDS programme is collapsing, following the withdrawal of the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). Motsoaledi stressed that the State is taking decisive steps to maintain HIV treatment and prevention programmes. This is after the withdrawal of the funding to key health initiatives, including PEPFAR, which was established by former President George W Bush in 2003 and continued under various administrations. The Minister noted a R7.9 billion loss from PEPFAR from the R46.8 billion spent on the HIV/AIDS programmes annually, with 5.9 million people on antiretrovirals (ARVs). 'It is inconceivable that out of R46.8 billion spent by the country on the HIV/AIDS programme, the withdrawal of R7.9 billion by [United States] President [Donald] Trump will immediately lead to a collapse of the entire programme.' Yesterday, Reuters reported that testing and monitoring of HIV patients across South Africa have fallen since the United States cut aid that funded health workers and clinics, with pregnant women, infants, and youth the most affected. However, according to the Minister, since the PEPFAR cuts, government has launched a comprehensive strategy to bridge the funding gap and continue critical healthcare services. Government has since established weekly provincial check-in meetings to verify and track HIV treatment progress. They have also reached half a million people through coordinated efforts with civil society and secured alternative funding sources, including support of R1 billion from the Global Fund. According to the Minister, they have also conducted provincial road shows to engage local healthcare workers, AIDS councils, and community stakeholders. 'It's wrong to say the campaign of the HIV/AIDS programme in South Africa is collapsing, because it's not. The fact that we've picked up this plan … shows that we know that something can go wrong. 'So, if viral load testing has dropped, does it mean the collapse of the campaign by any stretch of imagination? No. We expected that some of these problems would occur, but we are sitting with them every day. But simply because a problem is occurring, to go and announce that the HIV programme has collapsed is wrong.' Motsoaledi also addressed the closure of 12 specialised clinics funded by the PEPFAR, which has led to the transfer of 63 000 patient files to public health facilities. However, despite this, he mentioned government has already trained over 1 000 clinicians and over 2 300 non-clinicians in seven provinces. According to Motsoaledi, the country continues to maintain a stable supply of antiretroviral medications, with 90% procured through government fiscal resources and 10% from donors. 'I would also like to believe that every single South African from all walks of life has a wish and a desire to end the scourge of HIV and AIDS as a public health threat at least by 2030. 'But fighting each other, denigrating each other, pointing fingers, reporting and spreading disinformation about the status of the campaign is definitely not a way in the aftermath of President Trump's decision, and it is certainly not a way to end the scourge of HIV and AIDS.' Motsoaledi said the State was actively seeking support from international partners, including meetings with organisations like the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the French Development Agency. 'This is a time to come together, unite, and fight this as one strong unit.' The Minister highlighted government's continued commitment to combating HIV, stressing the significant achievements over the past decade. Additionally, he stated that the government's commitment to combating HIV remains strong, with significant achievements. Life expectancy has increased from 54.7 years in 2010 to 66.5 years in 2024, while maternal mortality has decreased from 249 to 86 per 100 000 live births, and the number of HIV-positive babies has dropped from 70 000 in 2004 to just 643 in 2025. – At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
