Public Works Minister Dean McPherson is facing widespread condemnation after it emerged that the department spent at least R350,000 on travel and accommodation for his boyfriend, who accompanied him to the BRICS Summit in Brazil.
Political parties criticized the move, highlighting what they see as hypocrisy from the Democratic Alliance, which has long opposed government wastage yet appears to allow such extravagant spending by one of its ministers.
“At a time when schools are falling apart, clinics are crumbling, and the department itself is failing to maintain its head office to acceptable safety standards, the Minister saw it fit to prioritise international travel that includes his partner,” said the Economic Freedom Fighters in a statement.
The EFF further highlighted the contradiction between the DA’s public stance and McPherson’s actions:
“The DA itself claims public representatives are prohibited from taking along partners or unauthorised companions on international taxpayer-funded trips. Yet here we have a DA minister doing exactly what they claim to oppose—exposing the hypocrisy of a party that pretends to be the guardian of clean governance while practicing elite indulgence when in power,” the statement read.
While ministerial guidelines permit ministers to travel with a spouse or life partner—defined as a romantic partner cohabiting and recognised as a partner—it remains unclear whether McPherson’s 41-year-old boyfriend, Louis Theunis Janse van Vuren, meets the criteria or if the couple live together. McPherson is officially listed as single.
ActionSA MP Malebo Kobe called the trip particularly troubling, noting that departmental officials had advised against covering the partner’s travel due to its irregularity.
“ActionSA calls on the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure to repay the R839,000 in taxpayer money allegedly splurged on a trip to Brazil accompanied by his partner, despite reportedly being given legal guidance advising against the partner’s travel, which we believe was purely wasteful and served no benefit to the taxpayer,” said Kobe.