National Assembly Speaker Baleka Mbete on Wednesday informed the African National Congress, the Democratic Alliance and the New National Party of the names of their MPs on the Scorpions’ preliminary list of 23 MPs allegedly linked to the parliamentary travel voucher scam.
However, only the DA was prepared to identify its MP named on the list, with the ANC and NNP declining to follow suit.
DA chief whip Douglas Gibson said Parliament has handled, and continues to handle, the travel-voucher scam very badly.
”There should be maximum transparency to reassure the public that no one who has been guilty of any wrongdoing will get away with it,” he said in a statement.
”We were not told the names of the ANC and NNP members on the list. This is wrong. The public should be told the names of those implicated.
”Even if Parliament won’t, the DA will proceed with maximum transparency,” Gibson said.
Mbete has informed the DA that MP Craig Morkel ”has been invited by the Scorpions to furnish an explanation for his conduct relating to the use of travel vouchers”.
”I have conveyed this information to Mr Morkel, and he must decide whether he wishes to avail himself of this opportunity.
”The DA position is clear: if Mr Morkel — or anyone else for that matter — is arrested, he will be suspended. If a conviction follows, his membership of Parliament will be terminated,” said Gibson.
The DA’s Federal Legal Commission is also investigating the matter.
Gibson said Mbete should keep in mind that it is not Parliament’s money or the state’s money at issue; it is taxpayers’ money that has allegedly been stolen.
”The only way to restore Parliament’s reputation and lift the cloud of suspicion clinging to all MPs is to be totally open with the public. All other parties should declare the names of those MPs who are under investigation by the Scorpions, and who may be arrested.”
The original list reportedly included more than 135 names of MPs. Because the list is in the hands of certain newspapers and the ANC, but not other political parties, rumours are spreading. Consequently, damage is being done to the reputations of many MPs, and to the institution of Parliament.
”This matter needs to be debated in Parliament urgently,” Gibson said.
ANC: ‘Law must take its course’
In a statement issued from Johannesburg, the ANC said its secretary general, Kgalema Mothlante, has received a list of ”ANC MPs being investigated by the Scorpions with respect to the misuse of parliamentary travel vouchers”.
The ANC will do everything within its power to ensure the full cooperation of its members with the Scorpions’ investigation.
”The ANC reiterates its position that the law must take its course, and that individuals implicated or charged in this matter should be presumed innocent until found otherwise.
”The ANC reiterates its position that it will act, in accordance with its Constitution, against any of its public representatives found guilty of such conduct.
”The ANC once more urges a thorough investigation of these charges,” the statement said.
NNP remains mum
NNP media director Carol Johnson said the party has taken legal advice and been told not to disclose the identity of its members named on the list, as this could have further legal repercussions in future.
Only one of its current MPs is listed and has been instructed to contact and cooperate with the Scorpions’ investigation. The MP has agreed to do this, Johnson said. — Sapa