Presidency Travel Bill: 2 Deputy Ministers Rack Up R6.4m in One Year

• Deputy Ministers Kenneth Morolong and Nonceba Mhlauli's combined travel bill reached R6.4 million in the 2025/26 financial year alone
• The figures were tabled in Parliament after ActionSA MP Dr Kgosi Letlape requested a full breakdown of official travel costs since July 2024
• Car rentals emerged as the single largest expense category, with Morolong's office accounting for R2.93 million in 2025/26

SOUTH AFRICA — The two deputy ministers in the Presidency and their support staff ran up a combined travel bill of R10.5 million across the 2024/25 and 2025/26 financial years, according to figures presented to Parliament.

According to the Daily Investor, Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni tabled the breakdown in response to a parliamentary question from ActionSA MP Dr Kgosi Letlape, who had asked for a detailed account of official travel expenditure since the deputy ministers assumed their posts in July 2024.

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Morolong's share of the spending

Deputy Minister Kenneth Morolong's office accounted for the larger portion of the costs. His travel-related expenditure rose from R2.82 million in 2024/25 to R4.54 million in 2025/26, bringing his two-year total to R7.36 million.

Car rentals were the dominant expense in 2025/26, amounting to R2.93 million for Morolong and his team. Flights added a further R809,359 and accommodation R689,957 to the bill for that year alone. Across both financial years, car hire for his office totalled R3.27 million.

Deputy Minister Nonceba Mhlauli's costs were lower but still substantial. Her office spent R1.28 million in 2024/25, followed by R1.86 million in 2025/26, for a two-year total of R3.14 million. Her largest single expense in 2025/26 was car rental at R876,607, with flights costing R613,330.

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What the travel covered

According to the parliamentary response, the expenditure related to ministry outreach programmes, stakeholder engagements, imbizos, site visits and awards ceremonies. The costs applied not only to the deputy ministers themselves but also to their support staff, including private secretaries, receptionists and heads of office.

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The combined travel spend across the two offices rose from R4.1 million in 2024/25 to R6.4 million in 2025/26.

Mhlauli was appointed to her position in June 2024, having previously served as spokesperson for the Ministry in the Presidency. Morolong was reappointed in July 2024, returning to a role he had held from March 2023 to June 2024. His portfolio includes oversight responsibilities relating to entities such as Statistics South Africa and the Media Development and Diversity Agency.

Ministers' perks revealed

Previously, Briefly News reported that South Africa’s 32 ministers receive a wide range of perks funded by taxpayers, in addition to their annual salary of about R2.79 million. A report from IOL indicated that these benefits include a government-paid house, a chauffeur, security protection, a housekeeper, and a fully paid cellphone, TV and internet service. Each minister is also entitled to a government vehicle worth up to R1.1 million. They can receive up to 20 personal domestic flights a year, while their dependent children get up to six free flights annually.

Source: Briefly News