The May visit to the Russian Federation by President Jacob Zuma had cost the South African taxpayer about R956‚000‚ while his visit to China during the 2014/15 financial year had cost more than R800‚000.
President Zuma was answering parliamentary questions by Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Mmusi Maimane and DA MP Stevens Mokgalapa.
The president said that on his working visit to the Russian Federation‚ at the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin to attend the 70th Anniversary of the Second World War‚ he had been accompanied by 79 officials from the Presidency and other departments.
“Air travel costs incurred by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation and the Presidency amounted to R179‚124.93‚ while the accommodation of the entire delegation cost R627‚630.54. Ground transport costs were R149‚893.67‚” Zuma said in his written reply.
Asked what the purpose of the visit had been‚ the president said‚ “The visit was guided by South Africa’s bilateral relations with the Russian Federation‚ which are informed by political‚ economic‚ social‚ defence and security cooperation and all the relevant legal instruments and mechanisms that affirm the strategic relationship between the two countries.
“We held talks on the margins of the event which included an assessment of bilateral cooperation‚ the status and implementation of SA-Russia ITEC (Joint Intergovernmental Committee on Trade and Economic Cooperation) Agreements and preparations for the 13th SA-Russia ITEC session to be hosted by the Russian Federation during the latter part of 2015.
“We also discussed preparations for the 7th BRICS Summit which was hosted by Russia from 08 to 09 July 2015. We agreed on the need to intensify cooperation in various areas of cooperation.”
Regarding his visit to China on December 4 and 5 2014‚ the president said issues deliberated upon included a review of South Africa’s bilateral relations with China; the adoption of the Five-to-Ten Year Strategic Programme for Cooperation; to commit China to South Africa’s industrialisation agenda development finance and request an increase in training slots; to discuss the high level Forum on Africa and China meeting that will take place in South Africa in December 2015; and to encourage China to commit to assist in establishing the African Regional Centre on the New Development Bank.
“Total costs related to the logistics of the visit‚ including accommodation and transport‚ were R834‚868.64‚” the president said in his written reply to a question by Mokgalapa.
Russian‚ Chinese visits by president cost taxpayers close to R1‚8m
The May visit to the Russian Federation by President Jacob Zuma had cost the South African taxpayer about R956‚000‚ while his visit to China during the 2014/15 financial year had cost more than R800‚000.
President Zuma was answering parliamentary questions by Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Mmusi Maimane and DA MP Stevens Mokgalapa.
The president said that on his working visit to the Russian Federation‚ at the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin to attend the 70th Anniversary of the Second World War‚ he had been accompanied by 79 officials from the Presidency and other departments.
“Air travel costs incurred by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation and the Presidency amounted to R179‚124.93‚ while the accommodation of the entire delegation cost R627‚630.54. Ground transport costs were R149‚893.67‚” Zuma said in his written reply.
Asked what the purpose of the visit had been‚ the president said‚ “The visit was guided by South Africa’s bilateral relations with the Russian Federation‚ which are informed by political‚ economic‚ social‚ defence and security cooperation and all the relevant legal instruments and mechanisms that affirm the strategic relationship between the two countries.
“We held talks on the margins of the event which included an assessment of bilateral cooperation‚ the status and implementation of SA-Russia ITEC (Joint Intergovernmental Committee on Trade and Economic Cooperation) Agreements and preparations for the 13th SA-Russia ITEC session to be hosted by the Russian Federation during the latter part of 2015.
“We also discussed preparations for the 7th BRICS Summit which was hosted by Russia from 08 to 09 July 2015. We agreed on the need to intensify cooperation in various areas of cooperation.”
Regarding his visit to China on December 4 and 5 2014‚ the president said issues deliberated upon included a review of South Africa’s bilateral relations with China; the adoption of the Five-to-Ten Year Strategic Programme for Cooperation; to commit China to South Africa’s industrialisation agenda development finance and request an increase in training slots; to discuss the high level Forum on Africa and China meeting that will take place in South Africa in December 2015; and to encourage China to commit to assist in establishing the African Regional Centre on the New Development Bank.
“Total costs related to the logistics of the visit‚ including accommodation and transport‚ were R834‚868.64‚” the president said in his written reply to a question by Mokgalapa.
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