The costs of the so-called 'spousal office' in the presidency have almost doubled in the past year, from R8.76-million in 2008/09 to R15.51-million in the 2010 financial year.

Giving these figures in a written reply to the leader of the opposition, Athol Trollip of the Democratic Alliance, Collins Chabane the Minister in the Presidency for Performance Monitoring and Evaluation said on Tuesday that the money was spent on providing all reasonable administrative, logistical and other support to the president's spouses to enable them to meet their responsibilities in a manner that permits them actively to pursue their own careers and interests if they so desire.

"The State also may provide reasonable logistical support to the spouses to assist with the day to day logistical arrangements of dependent school-going children in the household," Chabane said.

"Staff are employed or deployed by the Presidency to provide this support. This includes a private secretary for personal support and a researcher to assist in coordinating the necessary projects or activities of the spouses which are in support of government's programme of action. The Presidency also provides office administration requirements to the spouses to enable them to fulfil activities related to their state or official functions."

Dependent children

Chabane also pointed out to his questioner that the rules about dependent children apply equally to all children of the president regardless of whether he is married to their mother or not.

The children are entitled - between them - to 60 economy tickets a year to visit and reunite with their parents within the country at the cost of the Presidency. This figure is regardless of the total number of qualifying children. Travel costs beyond the allotted tickets are to be borne by the president.

Travel rules

"Dependent children under the age of 8 are entitled to be escorted by their child minder. The child minder's tickets are subtracted from the 60 allocated to the children," Chabane explained.

"A dependent over the age of 18 may accompany the president on an official visit abroad only when the dependent child acts as the official partner, in the absence of the spouse."

He added that in all other cases where a dependent child travels with or accompany the president or spouse on official and other visits, the costs are borne by the president and not the office.

However the Presidency will provide transport for school going children of the president in the instance where public transport or that allocated to the president is not available.