Monday, 02 March 2026

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) notes the confirmation that the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure used a taxpayer-funded “working visit” to Brazil to take his romantic partner along — at a total reported cost of R350,000.

At a time when schools are collapsing, clinics are crumbling, police stations are unsafe, and the Department itself cannot maintain its own head office to basic safety standards, the Minister saw it fit to prioritise international travel arrangements that include his partner.

Whether the cost was R350,000 or R3 million is not the central issue. The issue is the blatant abuse of public resources and the entitlement mentality that has infected the leadership of the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure. The Minister can hide behind corrections and media technicalities, but he cannot hide from the political reality: taxpayers funded a trip that included his partner.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) itself claims that public representatives are prohibited from taking partners or unauthorised companions on international taxpayer-funded trips. Yet here we have a DA Minister doing exactly what they claim to oppose — exposing the hypocrisy of a party that pretends to be the guardian of clean governance while practising elite indulgence when in power.

The Minister wants South Africans to focus on whether the article was “false” or “misleading.” We, however, want South Africans to focus on the facts:

• His partner travelled on an official overseas visit.
• Public funds were used.
• The Department he leads is in administrative and infrastructure crisis.

Public Works is the landlord of the state, yet it cannot maintain government buildings, cannot produce an updated credible asset register, and cannot prevent decay of public infrastructure. But when it comes to booking international trips, the machinery works perfectly.

The attempt to portray legitimate public scrutiny as a “fightback campaign” is desperate and dangerous. Every time a minister is exposed, the reflex is to blame journalists, blame officials, blame political opponents — anyone except themselves.

The EFF calls for:

1. Full disclosure of the complete breakdown of the Brazil trip expenditure.
2. Clarity on what portion of the cost related directly or indirectly to the Minister’s partner.
3. A clear policy explanation from the Department regarding companions on official trips.
4. A report to Parliament on all international travel undertaken by the Minister since assuming office.

The EFF will pursue this matter through parliamentary mechanisms and will not allow Public Works to become a travel agency for politically connected elites.

ISSUED BY ECONOMIC FREEDOM FIGHTERS

Sinawo Thambo (National Spokesperson) 072 629 7422

Thembi Msane (National Spokesperson) 061 467 8169

Andiswa Madikazi (Parliament Media Liason) 069 516 4924

Thato Lebyane (Media Inquiries) 078 563 1581