The DA wants President Cyril Ramaphosa to issue a proclamation for the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to investigate the allegations surrounding the salary package of Secretary to Parliament Xolile George and the alleged maladministration of the 2023 BRICS Parliamentary Forum.

The party has also lodged a complaint with Public Protector Kholeka Gcaleka against George, former speaker of the National Assembly, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, and former chairperson of the National Council of Provinces (NCOP), Amos Masondo.

In a letter to Ramaphosa, DA Chief Whip George Michalakis said George was appointed to Parliament in 2022 on a five-year contract, with an annual salary of R2.6 million.

“His package was swiftly increased to R4.4m – a more than 70% increase – within six months of his appointment. Today, Mr George’s basic salary stands at approximately R4.9m, an astounding sum as compared to his peers in the public service,” Michalakis said.

He wrote in his letter, dated February 5, that George’s salary increase and background to his nomination begged questions about the regularity of his appointment, the affordability, and correctness of the process in awarding the increase, and the extent to which appropriate oversight was conducted.

Michalakis added that his party has come into possession of documents, which cast light on the murkier aspects of these processes and cast doubt on several conduct and statements made by Mapisa-Nqakula and Masondo.

“Together with those documents, we have also been given possession of additional pieces of information concerning alleged irregularities in the budgeting and procurement processes related to the 9th BRICS Parliamentary Forum held in 2023.”

Michalakis said since Parliament has a limited scope for investigating matters of serious maladministration in the affairs of the State, the DA was requesting Ramaphosa to proclaim the SIU to investigate the matters, more especially concerns of impropriety, irregularity, and maladministration at the Houses of Parliament during the tenure of Mapisa-Nqakula, Masondo, and George.

The request to Ramaphosa was made the same day DA MP Rikus Badenhorst lodged a complaint with Gcaleka against the trio.

“We request that your office investigate the complaint presented in the enclosed affidavit,” he wrote in his letter.

The requests for investigation took place as the DA previously made a similar request to the Joint Standing Committee on Financial Management of Parliament (JSCFMP).

Michalakis has since shared the supporting evidence documents with incumbent Speaker Thoko Didiza, NCOP Chairperson Refilwe Mtsweni-Tsipane, JCFMP Co-Chairpersons Soviet Lekganyane and Sanny Ndhlovu, as well as ANC Chief Whip Mdumiseni Ntuli.

Badenhorst said they were urging that the serious allegations against the very top structure of the parliamentary executive be investigated.

“Our complaint sets out concrete grounds that warrant investigation, and we hope that the Public Protector, the president, and the JSCFMP will treat these allegations with the seriousness they deserve.”

He said they welcomed the JSCFMP’s commitment to investigate the allegations.

“We hope that Parliament’s Executive Authority investigates this matter and acts decisively against any and all perpetrators of possible corruption,” Badenhorst said.

Parliament said on Friday that it noted the DA statement regarding the allegations of maladministration and abuse of power.

Spokesperson Moloto Mothapo said it would have been appropriate for the DA to raise these concerns within the committee, which is the designated oversight structure for such matters.

“The DA’s media statement follows a letter addressed to the co-chairpersons of the Joint Standing Committee, which did not raise any of the issues now contained in the public statement,” Mothapo said.

He also said Parliament remained open to addressing matters of concern raised by any political party through the appropriate parliamentary processes.

“The Joint Standing Committee on the Financial Management of Parliament has formally requested a comprehensive briefing on all human resource matters, which is scheduled for the committee’s next meeting,” he said, adding that they would not pre-empt or undermine the work of the committee by engaging in parallel public commentary.

“Parliament has well-established accountability mechanisms, and the relevant parliamentary structures are fully seized of the matter and will consider it through the appropriate oversight processes.

“The DA and its MP, as active participants in the Joint Standing Committee, are therefore encouraged, like all members and parties, to respect the integrity of the committee process,” added Mothapo.

mayibongwe.maqhina@inl.co.za

Source link