Gravy plane mentality

Hard-pressed taxpayers are expected to foot the bill for jet-setting politicians who jump at every chance to travel overseas, usually flying first or business class.

Shaun Byneveldt, an ANC member and the speaker of the Western Cape provincial parliament, is believed to have travelled to about 51 countries since he took up his position four years ago, taking family members with him on some trips.

One source said Byneveldt was "forever travelling", and appeared to spend more time out of the country than at work.

"He merrily travels all over the world and, being the speaker, he doesn't need permission from anyone," said the source.

He said a colleague had even joked with Byneveldt at a recent meeting about when he was planning to visit his 52nd country.

The source added that Byneveldt never produced a report afterwards and just appeared to travel "for the sake of it".

"It is a legitimate perk, but questions do need to be asked about what value he brings back."

Weekend Argus put several questions to Byneveldt about his trips:

How many overseas trips were at taxpayers' expense? How many days have you spent out of the office on these trips since you became speaker? What has been the total cost to the taxpayer a) in terms of your own expenses and b) the total cost of the trip to the taxpayer of the entire delegation that accompanied you in each of the past four years? How many people accompanied you on these trips in total? Have family members ever accompanied you and, if so, who has paid their expenses? Could you please also supply details of each trip with regard to the specific benefits that flowed to the taxpayers whose money was used to fund these trips. Byneveldt was given nearly a week to respond, but his office supplied only this statement: "The Western Cape provincial parliament and the office of the speaker in particular hereby reserve the right to respond fully to all and/or any matter raised in your aforesaid e-mail when adequate opportunity to do so avails itself, save to place on record, at this juncture, that the information that you rely on, in a variety of material respects, is incorrect." Members of the DA were also reluctant to comment. One source said it wasn't appropriate to question the speaker. He added that the delegates who accompanied Byneveldt were usually from various parties so no one wanted to rock the boat. Several years ago the DA hit out at what it called the "gravy plane mentality", referring to politicians flying business class instead of economy, which cost the taxpayer millions of rands. At the time Ebrahim Rasool, then premier, said he and his MECs were entitled to first-class flights, yet they chose the cheaper business class.

- Cape Argus