The deputy president’s controversial trip

The Presidency has confirmed that Thuthukile Mazibuko-Skweyiya, the wife of Social Development Minister Zola Skweyiya, accompanied Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka on her trip to the United Arab Emirates. This is the first time since the start of the furore over the trip in an Air Force VIP jet that any official mention has been made of Mazibuko-Skweyiya’s presence on the plane. Presidential spokesperson Murphy Morobe told journalists at the Union Buildings in Pretoria the deputy-president had considered Mazibuko-Skweyiya the right person to take along, as she was involved in skills development work in the UAE.