Cape Town – President Cyril Ramaphosa has reportedly avoided answering questions in parliament regarding the full cost of his Ukraine-Russia peace mission in June.
According to EWN, he said that this information would be disclosed in the Presidency’s annual report.
Additionally, Ramaphosa deferred a question about the cost of the chartered plane used by his protection unit and a media group during the mission, the report said.
Over 100 security personnel were initially denied entry into Poland, causing a dispute over the weapons on board the aircraft.
Ramaphosa did not express an opinion on whether the Polish authorities were justified in their actions but mentioned that the Polish government had provided reasons for their refusal via diplomatic channels.
He also said that his travel to Kyiv was sponsored by the Ukrainian government and that the full mission cost, including onward travel to Russia, would be accounted for in his annual report.
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The president suggested that questions regarding the cost of the SAA charter flight should be directed to the SAPS and the defence force, said the report.
He was responding to questions from the DA leader John Steenhuisen.
According to News24, in a written parliamentary question, Steenhuisen had asked Ramaphosa the following questions:
“What was the full cost to South African taxpayers of the entire South African contingent, including the 120-person security detail, the media component, the delegation itself and the chartered SA Airways plane that transported the security detail and media component and is the detailed breakdown of all costs?
“What are the full details of the list of names for the entire South African contingent and justification for each individual’s inclusion?
“Whether he stands by the statement made by his head of protection services that their denial of entry into Poland was due to racism and sabotage on the part of the Polish authorities; if not, what is The Presidency’s official explanation for the South African contingency being denied entry to Poland?
“Whether Ivor Ichikowitz and Jean-Yves Ollivier had any role in the African Peace Mission; if not, what are the reasons that they were present at the 5 June meeting of African leaders ahead of the Peace Mission; if so, what are the relevant details?”
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
