Parliament has taken legal action against five MPs after they defaulted on repaying owed travel monies, but it remains mum on the names of those implicated in the multimillion-rand travel voucher scam.
Ten MPs have signed acknowledgement of debts following the liquidation of ITC Travel, whose director, Estelle Aggujaro, is one of the seven travel agents arrested by the Scorpions in July. ”Five MPs are settling their indebtedness by monthly payments totalling R22 000.
”Others have defaulted in their payments and legal steps have been taken against them,” said a parliamentary briefing document released to coincide with Tuesday’s National Assembly debate on the fraud.
A total of R401 000 has so far been recovered by the liquidators of ITC. They identified about 20 MPs who illegally used the parliamentary travel vouchers.
Secretary of Parliament Zingile Dingani refused to elaborate at a briefing on Wednesday, saying that, on ”the issue of MPs who acknowledged debt, the detail of that is currently being dealt with by liquidators”. Only Democratic Alliance MP Craig Morkel has publicly acknowledged that he is repaying the R33 000 owed to ITC in R2 900 instalments.
No steps are being contemplated against Eyabantu travel agency, established with the help of African National Congress MP Danny Olifant after ITC’s demise. ”It does not appear that there is any point in pursuing an investigation. [Eyabantu] only traded for one month, submitted one statement and Parliament did not pay it,” says the briefing document.
Last year Olifant was cleared of failing to disclose a financial interest. The parliamentary ethics committee accepted his explanation that he merely stood surety for rent and telephone bills. More MPs are expected to sign similar acknowledgements and arrange repayments.
National Assembly Speaker Baleka Mbete appeared defensive on Wednesday: ”There is nothing wrong with a politician being involved in business like any other citizen,” she said.