Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe under spotlight

Imogen Vollenhoven
11 February 2013

Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe has come under fire after it emerged at the weekend that he, his partner and several state bodyguards spent nearly two weeks at the luxury holiday destination. 

It was reported that accommodation for the party’s 12-night stay at the Desroches Island Resort cost more than R2 million.

Kgalema Motlanthe spokesperson Thabo Masebe said wherever he travelled when he travelled by road and transported by the SAPS and when he travelled by air he was flown by the South African Airforce.

Masebe adds that the SAPS also provides security on a 24 hour basis and all these things he says both security and travel is regardless of the purpose of this travel whether it is for private or for official purposes.

Meanwhile the Democratic Alliance said they will be requesting the Public Protector Thuli Mandonsela to investigate the use of public funds by Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe

DA Shadow Minister of Defence and Military Veterans David Maynier said that no matter what the rule it is simply wrong for Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe to use public funds on his holiday in the Seychelles, when so many people in our country live in poverty.