Ministers in South Africa's Government of National Unity GNU have spent over R200 million on travel expenses since July last year, according to ActionSA's GNU performance tracker.
Deputy President Paul Mashatile and his staff alone spent more than R2 million on travel , including trips to Ireland, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Japan.
According to The Citizen , the deputy president was accompanied by a high-level delegation including multiple ministers and senior staff, with detailed costs provided for each.
He met with Japanese political leaders and business groups, promoted investment, and delivered a keynote at the United Nations University as part of aligning South Africa's G20 Presidency with Japan's African engagement.
While costly, the trip was described as essential for fostering political and economic partnerships with Japan - South Africa's fourth-largest trading partner.