OWN CORRESPONDENT, Cape Town | Monday 10.00pm.
INTERPOL is conducting an international investigation into the South African tourism marketing body, Satour, over the alleged misappropriation of R1,9-million, Environmental Affairs and Tourism Minister Dr Pallo Jordan said on Monday.
In response to a written question by National Party MP Dr Marthinus Appelgryn in Parliament, Jordan said that Interpol has requested a meeting with the auditor-general — whose office previously uncovered irregularities involving about R307216 at Satour’s Paris office. The issue of financial irregularities within Satour first arose last year.
Answering questions last year before Parliament’s public accounts committee on the auditor-general’s 1995/96 report, Satour chair Liz Westby-Nunn said R194443, due to the French authorities for medical and social welfare benefits, had been misappropriated by Satour staff. The misappropriated amount — as announced by Jordan — has now grown to R1,9-million.
Appelgryn said that “the status of the investigation [into Satour] has been shrouded in relative secrecy, and it is a matter of concern that the minister chose to make this disclosure only after being prodded by the opposition,” he said.