Secretary to Parliament Zingile Dingani said in a statement on Thursday that a new travel system was to be put in place for members of Parliament.
The statement followed a travel scam in which Parliament has been defrauded of millions of rands under the current system.
Dingani said a draft report from PriceWaterhouseCoopers had been tabled to the presiding officers. The firm has been carrying out a forensic audit at the request of Parliament.
The presiding officers — the speaker of the National Assembly, Baleka Mbete, and the chairperson of the National Council of Provinces, Joyce Kgoali — had been given the opportunity to study the report ”and wish it to be known that they still await a final report when investigations are completed”.
Dingani said among the things ”noted” in the report were weaknesses in regard to travel facilities for Members of Parliament and the internal controls applying to the current system — which uses a travel voucher system.
”The presiding officers have requested the Secretary to Parliament to put in place a process that is going to assist in developing a new system with a view to eliminating the weaknesses that are being experienced with the current system.
”The new system will be more effective and efficient,” he pledged.
”Once the process of development of the system is complete the presiding officers will table the proposal to Parliament and thereafter make a public statement.
”As far as the list of those implicated is concerned, that matter firmly remains in the hands of the investigators [the Scorpions]. The presiding officers are concerned that this matter is sub judice and therefore they do not want to comment any further.” ‒ I-Net Bridge