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A reply to a parliamentary question has today revealed that International Relations Minister, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, spent over R10 million on 14 chartered international flights between 1 April 2010 and 30 June 2011.

Each flight cost an average of almost R750 000.

A copy of the reply can be found here.

We calculate that had the Minister used commercial airlines, like ministers should do, she would have saved the South African people R9.6 million.

This is the same minister who, in September this year, chartered a flight from Oslo apparently to avoid having her luggage scanned, as required by international law.

But now a different picture is emerging. The chartered flight from Oslo was not a one-off - expensive chartered flights are clearly her preferred mode of travel.

No doubt the cost of these flights to the South African people is the furthest thing from her mind as she kicks back on a luxury jet. Now she owes us all an explanation.
It is up to the Minister to tell us why she chose to abuse public money for private jets. The DA will be writing to the Public Protector to request an investigation into the Minister's conduct.