Muthambi faces DA anger over her R300 000 junket

Public Service and Administration Minister Faith Muthambi, pictured, needs to account to parliament for wasting hundreds of thousands of rands of public money on a “family junket”, the Democratic Alliance (DA) said yesterday.

The DA would ask public service and administration portfolio committee chairwoman Makhosi Khoza to summon Muthambi to account for wasting R300 000 of taxpayers’ money on flying 30 people to watch her give a speech in parliament, DA spokesperson Desiree van der Walt said.

“Muthambi must be made to repay every cent she spent on making sure people would come to watch her speak. Her guests included her son, sister, aunt and mother, and former SABC board chairperson Ellen Tshabalala.

“A Limpopo police constable was employed by Muthambi as her personal assistant and former SABC boss Hlaudi Motsoeneng’s daughter was also hired by her,” Van der Walt said.

These reports had surfaced on the back of revelations that the wealthy, politically-connected Gupta family had received highly confidential cabinet meeting information from Muthambi in May.

“Meddling” Muthambi, who was seemingly deeply compromised and who was the very same person who oversaw the demise of the SABC, was clearly at it again in her new portfolio, she said.

Muthambi clearly had no inclination to serve South Africa, but was very happy to fly her family and friends around at taxpayers’ expense.

“The DA will not stand for this. Muthambi must appear to account before the public service and administration committee and be made to pay back every cent of wasted taxpayers’ money,” Van der Walt said.

Muthambi must be made to repay every cent she spent on making sure people would come to watch her speak. Desiree van der Walt Democratic Alliance spokesperson