Joemat-Pettersson guilty of reckless spending

Madonsela’s investigation followed complaints lodged last year in terms of the Executive Members Ethics Act by Dr Lourie Bosman, who at the time was the DA’s agricultural spokesperson.

The complaints concerned Joemat-Pettersson’s hotel bills in 2010, which amounted to R709 352 for just over two months of accommodation at luxury hotels and a trip to Sweden in 2009. The latter cost the tax payer R151 878 in flights for her children and their au pair.

Although Madonsela’s report found that charging the flights to the department was in violation of the ministerial handbook, the minister herself was not in violation, as she was incorrectly advised by former chief of staff, Bafedile Bopape, that it was allowed.