Ramaphosa docks Mapisa-Nqakula 3 months’ salary over Zimbabwe trip
President Cyril Ramaphosa formally reprimanded Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula for allowing an African National Congress (ANC) delegation to travel to Zimbabwe on an air force plane.
The president also docked the minister three months’ salary.
"Her salary for the three months should be paid into the Solidarity Fund,” said Ramaphosa’s acting spokesperson Tyrone Seale on Sunday.
"The president furthermore directed the minister to make sure that the ANC reimburses the state for the costs of the flight to Harare and to report to him once that has been done.”
Ramaphosa earlier asked Mapisa-Nqakula for a report into the trip following a public outcry over ANC’s hitching of a ride on a state aircraft to meet with Zanu-PF representatives.
"While the minister was on an official trip for which the president had given permission and for which she was entitled to use a SAAF aircraft, he found that it was an error of judgment to use the plane to convey a political party delegation," said Seale.
"The president said that this error of judgment was not in keeping with the responsibilities of a Minister of Cabinet.
"He found that the Minister did not act in the best interest of good governance as required by the Executive Members Code; failed to adhere to legal prescripts warranting care in use of state resources; and acted in a way that is inconsistent with her position as required by the code."