Travelgate in spotlight
Thu, 23 Oct 2008 12:00
Internal parliamentary proceedings against 11 Travelgate MPs
identified by the Scorpions at least two years ago have still not been
concluded, according to court papers filed this week.
The 11 apparently include chair of the safety and security portfolio
committee Maggie Sotyu, and sport committee chair Butana Khomphela.
The papers were part of Parliament's response to an urgent
application by businessman Hugh Glenister to stop Thursday's vote on
the bills that will kill off the Scorpions.
The application was rejected on Wednesday night.
In an affidavit the chairman of Parliament's ethics committee,
Luwellyn Landers, said the Scorpions had investigated some 300 MPs
allegedly involved in travel voucher irregularities.
In most cases, he said, the investigations resulted in decisions not
to prosecute the members.
However, 31 were identified for prosecution, and 11 cases "referred
to Parliament to deal with internally".
"The proceedings in respect of them have not been concluded,"
Landers said
In a separate affidavit, National Assembly Speaker Gwen
Mahlangu-Nkabinde said the Scorpions had given Parliament a list
indicating that certain MPs had allegedly used their travel vouchers
for car hire in contravention of parliamentary rules.
"It will be fairly seen from this document that the DSO [Scorpions]
recommended that Parliament and/or the respective political parties
consider instituting disciplinary action against the said members," she
said.
Mahlangu-Nkabinde attached a copy of a November 2006 letter from
Scorpions Western Cape boss Adrian Mopp, in which Mopp listed 13 MPs
"identified as having utilised their travel vouchers for vehicle hire
in contravention of parliamentary rules".
Among them - the copy is incomplete - were Jonathan Arendse,
Onewang Kasienyane, Monontsi Mzondeki, Masenyani Baloyi, Bulelwa Tinto,
Pietos Mathebe, Nomhle Mahlawe, N Nonkonyana (sic - the only
Nonkonyana in Parliament is Mwelo), Zolile Kolweni, Sotyu and
Khomphela.
It is not clear how the 13 became 11, though some MPs may have quit
their seats.
Mopp says in the letter that the names are an extract of a report
the Scorpions presented to the secretary of Parliament "some time ago".
According to Landers, of the 31 MPs identified for prosecution by
the Scorpions, 29 entered plea bargains, and one prosecution was
withdrawn on humanitarian grounds.
One of the MPs, Nyami Booi, is contesting fraud charges in the Cape
Town Regional Court.
The National Assembly, of which all the 13 MPs but Kolweni are
members, is scheduled to vote on the Scorpions bills on Thursday
afternoon.
Booi has reportedly said he will not participate in the vote.
It was reported in January last year that a parliamentary
disciplinary committee was expected to start dealing with the issue of
the "internal" MPs.