Scorpions spokesperson Sipho Ngwema said in a statement on Friday that the 40 MPs implicated in the Travelgate scandal — 27 current and 13 former MPs — will appear in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court on February 18.
Ngwema said in a statement the Scorpions began issuing summonses against the MPs on Friday. Criminal proceedings will start on February 18.
This is a week after the official opening of Parliament by President Thabo Mbeki.
The names of the MPs — who allegedly used their travel vouchers for illicit purposes — will be disclosed when they appear in court.
Meanwhile, official opposition chief whip Douglas Gibson reacted to Ngwema’s statement.
“The news that the 40 MPs accused in the Travelgate scandal will only appear in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court on February 18 is mystifying. Since they will only be appearing for the purpose of being charged, the further delay of three weeks is inexplicable.
“The fact that the MPs’ names will only be made public when they appear in court means that the clouds of scandal will continue to hover over all MPs until then, and this includes the opening of Parliament.
“The DA finds this distressing and unacceptable because no one should be able to bargain away the public’s right to be informed. Secret deals done to advantage politicians cannot be in the public interest.
“It seems to me that the African National Congress is calling the shots and the Scorpions have either been pressurised or prevented from carrying out their promise to arrest the accused this week,” he said. — I-Net Bridge