# Deputy president Paul Mashatile’s March visit to Japan cost taxpayers over 2.3-million-rand, with nearly 900-thousand spent on accommodation for him and his wife. Responding to parliamentary questions from ActionSA, Mashatile confirmed that the trip was undertaken to strengthen bilateral ties and promote investment opportunities. News24 reports, the total bill included more than 1.2-million-rand for hotels, 410-thousand-rand for transport, 51-thousand-rand for food, and eight-thousand-rand for laundry. ActionSA says the GNU executive’s travel has cost the government over 184-million-rand since July last year.
Taxpayers foot R2.3-million bill for Mashatile’s Japan trip