South Africa is fighting recession by cutting on expensive meals served at some government meetings and replacing them with tea, water and biscuits.

"Budgets that are spent on meals or food in departments, traveling, are being slashed as we speak," Themba Maseko told reporters Thursday while outlining plans in tough financial conditions.

Maseko said the food budget in his state's communication department was slashed by over 80 percent to avoid having to provide meals.

"So that if there is anything you provide it will just be tea and water and some biscuits as you will see outside here," he said.

South Africa economy plunged 6.4 percent in the first quarter of 2009 as the country entered its first recession in 17 years.

Source: Agencies