/ 24 August 2012

Parties pleased with Parliament CFO sacking

Parliament's chief financial officer Leslie Mondo has been sacked after being found guilty on four counts of misconduct.
Parliament's chief financial officer Leslie Mondo has been sacked after being found guilty on four counts of misconduct.

"This indeed augurs well for the institution's uncompromising stance against corruption and its drive for clean and accountable governance," African National Congress chief whip Mathole Motshekga's office said in a statement on Friday.

"It inspires great confidence and trust that Parliament, as our country's lawmaking and oversight body, is leading by example in the fight against corruption and maladministration."

Mondo was fired with immediate effect on Friday after being found guilty on four of five counts of misconduct following an investigation by the auditor general. The charges related to a salary advance of R186 000 paid to secretary to Parliament Zingile Dingani for a security wall around his home in Panorama.

Dingani and Mondo were placed on special leave in March after the misconduct allegations surfaced.

Democratic Alliance Chief Whip Watty Watson welcomed the dismissal, but said the party was concerned that the matter had not been referred to the Parliamentary Oversight Authority (POA) before the decision was made. The POA was due to meet next week.

"[We] believe this outcome is the first essential step in ensuring the institution's democratic integrity and credibility is restored," said Watson. – Sapa