Minister of Basic Education Angie Motshekga’s hotel accommodation for the past three years cost R594 999.54, her department said in reply to a parliamentary question.
Locally, the well-travelled minister’s lodgings for official business ranged from R2 399 at the 3-star Garden Court in Mthatha to the classic 5-star Oyster Box in Umhlanga Rocks at R6 609.03 for the one night she stayed for a meeting.
The 5-star Hilton in Durban cost R4 997 for one night to attend an official meeting, and it cost R44 175.36 for seven nights at the Tsogo Sun in Bloemfontein for official business there early in December 2012.
One night at the Fusion Boutique Hotel for “intervention” in Limpopo in June 2013 cost R4 348.28. Motshekga had several stays in the hotel when in the province.
For international travel, two nights in Luanda cost R34 880 to attend a women’s workshop at the 5-star Hotel de Convencoes de Talatona.
As part of an official visit to London with the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco), she was booked into the 5-star Royal Horseguards which boasts “refurbished Victorian elegance” at R71 895.99 for five nights.
Seven nights at the 5-star Hyatt Paris Madeleine in November 2013 cost R63 693.98, while on an official trip with Dirco.
For a door-to-door campaign in Cradock in March 2014, the accommodation cost R737.28 for one night.
The questions were posed by DA MP Gavin Davis.