Gordhan roadshow: where's the belt tightening?

Cape Town - Despite publicity about ministers - including Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa and Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan - demonstrating cost-cutting at the top by flying economy class, the message seems to have been short-lived. 

When Gordhan’s 17-strong “non-deal investment roadshow” travelled to London, Boston and New York last week, all flew business class. And in London the delegation, minus the trade union component, found lodgings at the luxury five-star Grange St Pauls hotel. 

However, when they moved on to Boston and New York, the accommodation was at four-star level, at the Hyatt Boston Harbour and the historic Waldorf Astoria in New York.

The delegation comprised Gordhan, seven representatives from National Treasury and the South African Reserve Bank, six business leaders and three trade unionists who joined the group for the Boston-New York leg of the roadshow. 

“First time I have ever flown business class,” said National Council of Trade Unions president Joseph Maqhekeni, admitting he found the experience “rather ironic”, given all the calls for belt tightening.