DA speaks out against ANC chief whip

The appointment of Mnyamezeli Booi as the African National Congress (ANC) chief whip in the National Assembly showed the party had completely lost its moral compass, the Democratic Alliance said on Friday.

Booi, appointed on Thursday, faces criminal charges in the so-called Travelgate scandal.

He is scheduled to go on trial in February.

“Booi is accused of defrauding Parliament of R140 000 as part of the Travelgate scandal,” DA chief whip Ian Davidson said in a statement.

“The charges he faces include allegedly using taxpayers’ money to pay for air tickets and hotel accommodation for his friends.”

Now Booi was being rewarded a job with a salary worth about R1-million of taxpayers’ money.

“At the very least the ANC should have refrained from appointing him until he has been cleared by the courts.

“The majority party must now give the assurance that if he is found guilty, or to have violated any parliamentary procedures, he will be removed from his position.”

Booi has claimed innocence of any wrongdoing, and is the only Travelgate MP who refused to enter a plea bargain agreement with the Scorpions.—Sapa