The KwaZulu-Natal legislature is expected to subject Jo-Anne Downs, an African Christian Democratic Party member, to disciplinary action for giving a confidential auditor general’s report about financial irregularities in the House to the Mail & Guardian.
Portions of the report, which contained details of misgovernance, reckless management and alleged misappropriation of funds in the KwaZulu-Natal legislature, were printed in the M&G earlier this year.
Downs told the legislature at a debate on the leak last week that she had responded to her ”conscience and the Constitution”, which says that the legislature should have a good reason for not allowing the public or the media access to the House.
Members argued that subsequent leaks to other media had exposed staff members, who had not yet been told about the charges against them.
Downs denied leaking the report to other media and said the M&G had abided by her request not to mention staff members named in the report. The report also implicated the Speaker, the Inkatha Freedom Party’s Bonga Mdletshe, and his deputy, the ANC’s Willies Mchunu.
The report revealed that the vehicle allocated to Mdletshe by the legislature allegedly used 15 new tyres in five months, at a cost of R16 000, and an additional R50 000 was spent on repairs and services to it.
Mchunu was alleged to have met with an accident in a state-owned car, which he did not report within 48 hours as required by law. Last week Mchunu stepped down from his position to allow an independent inquiry to investigate the allegations against him. Mdletshe has refused to vacate his post.
The IFP support him on the grounds that a person should be assumed innocent until proven guilty.