DSD defends spending R3m to send delegation to UN Commission in New York in March

The social development department has defended the three million rand it spent on travel for six officials and a civil society representative to attend the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women in New York in March.

Director-General Peter Neshipale said the rand-dollar exchange rate and the late bookings contributed to the exorbitant cost of the travel.

The department was called to Parliament’s portfolio committee on Thursday to explain the expenditure.

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Netshipale delivered a detailed explanation to the committee about the benefits of the annual event and the opportunity it presents for the minister to hold bilateral meetings and to form partnerships.

The department spent a million rand on flight tickets, and a further R1.3 million for accommodation.

Netshipale said that in the future, the size of the delegation would be reduced.

"It’s a lesson for us to say how do we move to the next level in ensuring that we spend accordingly."

Meanwhile, Minister Sisisi Tolashe dismissed suggestions by the department’s spokesperson, Lumka Oliphant, that she was suspended for alerting the media to the trip costs.

"Miss Oliphant’s precautionary suspension follows the report of the auditor-general, which flags some serious irregularities relating to the mismanagement of funds within the integrated justice system programme."

Committee chairperson Bridget Masango said that while the committee does not dispute the value the department gleans from attending the annual event, steps needed to be taken to reduce costs in the future.