CAPE TOWN – South Africa’s Deputy President Paul Mashatile spent R346,000 per night on accommodation during a London trip, sparking widespread criticism as the country grapples with economic hardship.
Parliamentary documents show Mashatile’s four international trips since assuming office on 3 July 2024 cost taxpayers R7.9 million. The revelation came after ActionSA MP Lerato Ngobeni requested a breakdown of all official travel expenses.
The London accommodation costs during his September-October 2024 visit reached R2.077 million for six nights. His March 2025 Japan trip cost R956,057 for four nights’ accommodation.
“This kind of wasteful expenditure is unacceptable,” said Ngobeni in response to the parliamentary disclosure. “Taxpayers are struggling to make ends meet, while senior officials are living in five-star luxury.”
The Deputy President’s office justified the trips as strategically important. The Japan visit marked 115 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries. It aligned with South Africa’s G20 Presidency preparations.
Mashatile’s spouse, Humile Mashatile, accompanied him on both trips. She participated in official spousal programmes, according to parliamentary responses.
The Ireland and United Kingdom working visits from 26 September to 4 October 2024 totalled R5.475 million. This made it the most expensive of the four trips undertaken since July.
The Japan working visit from 16 to 19 March 2025 cost R2.3 million in total. Flight costs amounted to R613,214 for the delegation. Ground transport added R410,926 to the bill.
Additional expenses included R51,393 for restaurant services in Japan. The delegation also spent R8,033 on laundry services during the four-day visit.
For context, Tokyo’s Aman Hotel charges R142,000 per night for its largest suite. London’s most exclusive hotels like Claridge’s rarely exceed R300,000 for premium accommodation.
The Deputy President represented President Cyril Ramaphosa at two regional events. His trip to Botswana for President Duma Boko’s inauguration cost R52,867. The Zimbabwe SADC Summit visit totalled R56,166.
Opposition parties and civil society groups condemned the spending patterns. They argued the expenses cannot be justified amid South Africa’s current economic challenges.
Mashatile’s delegation to Japan included several cabinet ministers. Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie, Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen, and Trade Minister Parks Tau accompanied him.
The parliamentary response did not disclose specific hotel names or explain the accommodation pricing. This lack of transparency intensified public backlash over the expenditure.
South Africa faces significant budget constraints as it approaches the 2025/26 fiscal year. Political analysts have called for cabinet size reductions to improve spending efficiency.
The Deputy President’s travel expenses add to growing concerns about government expenditure. Recent reports show Sports Minister McKenzie’s department spent R6.6 million on international travel, including R164,556 for a cancelled Burkina Faso trip.
