Opposition slams R5.9m Venezuela trip by Gauteng legislature speaker as ‘disgraceful’

Who went, when and how much it cost

The delegation left South Africa on 27 November 2025 to attend the four-day tourism fair, which ran from 28 November to 1 December 2025. Mosupyoe, who is 65, led a group that included four senior managers and seven staff members.

Documents tabled in the Gauteng legislature show the trip cost a total of R5.9 million. The recorded breakdown includes:

• R3.3 million on flights
• More than R900,000 on accommodation
• More than R250,000 on transport
• R34,000 on travel services
• R1.5 million on daily allowances

The motion states that each member of the delegation received about R125,000 in daily allowances.

Opposition reaction and motion of censure

Democratic Alliance (DA) Gauteng leader Solly Msimanga, who tabled the motion of censure, criticised the size of the delegation for a conference that lasted only four days and questioned the benefit to Gauteng residents.

“It is disheartening and appalling that the Speaker of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature, Morakane Mosupyoe, is spending an excessive amount of money for personal gain while residents of this province are struggling to access basic services such as water, electricity, and proper sanitation,” Msimanga told IOL.

Msimanga said the DA had already tabled a motion of censure and demanded accountability, adding that Mosupyoe’s explanation on the trip was not sufficient.

“It is not sufficient – hence we tabled the motion of censure. Attached are the replies to our questions during the Office of the Premier’s Portfolio Committee. Answering questions without accountability is not adequate.”

In the motion Msimanga described the expenditure as “disgraceful” and said the resources should have been channelled to service delivery, noting pressure on municipalities and NGOs.

Unexplained length of trip and security-related changes

Although the Fitven fair lasted four days, travel records show the delegation was away for 12 days. The motion notes the additional eight days have not been explained.

The delegation attended the first day of the event before the South African embassy advised them to leave Venezuela because of security concerns. Travel records show the group travelled to the airport late at night without confirmed return flights; they were told the airport was the safest place to stay and were advised to take the first available flight out of Venezuela. The delegation later boarded a flight to New York.

The change in travel plans accounts for part of the delay, but the travel records still show a 12-day trip, leaving some days unexplained. The trip took place before Venezuela later closed its airspace, and that development did not affect the delegation’s travel plans.

What the motion says about value for money

The motion argues the delegation was larger than necessary because Brand South Africa already had a stand at the event and that the trip produced little benefit for Gauteng residents, particularly amid pressing service delivery challenges.