Dean Macpherson’s name sits at the centre of a fresh row over ministerial travel after a City Press report and subsequent correction thrust questions about party transparency into the open, reports Cape {town} Etc.
According to EWN, Macpherson has followed party rules for the Brazil trip and welcomed a correction to earlier cost claims.
[STATEMENT] City Press has corrected its false article claiming I ignored legal advice on my partner’s travel to Brazil and inflated the trip cost to R839,000 – when confirmed expenditure was R350,000. Their social media post on X has subsequently been deleted.
This reporting… pic.twitter.com/VeiTWcFQYi
— Dean Macpherson MP (@DeanMacpherson) March 1, 2026
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DA Federal Council chairperson Helen Zille defended the party’s internal process and said the travel complied with party policy. She described the matter as handled under party procedures.
DA MP Phumzile Van Damme took to X to press a broader point about accountability, writing that delegation must be clearly motivated and that avoiding parliamentary questions undermines transparency. Her post warned that erosion of procedural integrity damages public trust.
Um, Helen.
The policy is clear. Delegation MUST be formally supplied and motivated for. It’s good to see an honest admission of internal oversight and a commitment that it won’t be allowed going forward, even if technically permitted by the Ministerial Handbook.
But there’s a… https://t.co/2YuUUqTMAe pic.twitter.com/jzKaSDqPqG
— Phumzile Van Damme (@zilevandamme) March 3, 2026
Public pressure rose after political opponents and commentators cited the initial City Press figures and called for repayment and clearer disclosures. ActionSA and others have demanded accountability from the minister’s office.
The exchange highlights a test for the Democratic Alliance’s commitment to openness, with MPs and voters watching how the party translates policy into practice.
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Picture: Misha Jordaan / Gallo Images
