Parliament’s public spending watchdog declined a request on Wednesday for a special probe into Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka’s recent taxpayer-funded holiday plane trip.
A Democratic Alliance proposal to the standing committee on public accounts (Scopa) was opposed by its African National Congress members.
At the conclusion of the debate, Scopa chairperson Themba Godi said Auditor General Shauket Fakie will consider the issue as a matter of course in his annual audit of government departments.
”An investigation by the auditor general is something nobody is averse to, and there is no intention of sweeping anything under the carpet,” Godi told committee members.
The DA’s Eddie Trent, who tabled a draft resolution referring the issue to Fakie to be investigated within three weeks, expressed disappointment at the outcome.
”The ultimate judge of this committee’s decision will be the public,” he said.
The DA will now write to the auditor general directly, asking him to probe the matter without delay.
Fakie told reporters he will consider holding an interim inquiry, if requested, pending his annual report to Parliament in September.
If not, Mlambo-Ngcuka’s trip to the United Arab Emirates will be given specific attention in his annual audit of the Presidency’s books.
Integrity
Trent said the trip, reported to have cost about R700 000, should be investigated under the Public Finance Management Act. At issue is possible unauthorised, irregular, fruitless or wasteful expenditure.
It is important for the integrity of the post of deputy president for the matter to be probed and laid to rest, Trent argued.
United Christian Democratic Party committee member Edmund Pule agreed an investigation is needed, given the prominence afforded the issue.
”We need to do everything to make sure the security of our leaders is not compromised, but at the same time we have to make sure that there is transparency and accountability.”
Committee members, as public representatives, have a duty to establish the facts.
Vincent Smith, of the ANC, said there is no need for a referral as the auditor general will pick up any irregularity in the course of his duty. There is no danger of wrongdoing being swept under the carpet.
Another ANC member, Pierre Gerber, pointed to Fakie, saying: ”The auditor general is sitting there. He doesn’t wear glasses. There’s nothing wrong with his sight. He had to be blind not to see what has been in the media in the last couple of weeks.”
Distinction
Smith said no distinction is made between holiday or work time in providing security for the president and deputy president.
In this regard, the police are responsible for transport on the ground, and the South African Air Force for air travel. Costs will naturally be incurred.
Smith implied the DA is using the issue for political propaganda in the run-up to the March 1 municipal elections.
”I don’t think it is going to be allowed that Scopa be used to further the interests of any political party.”
DA member Anchen Dreyer pointed the committee to its mission statement, requiring ”rigorous oversight” to ensure ”maximum value for each taxpayer rand”.
One would have expected the ANC to welcome an opportunity for the deputy president to clear her name, and to show it is serious about fighting corruption, she added.
Trent said a cloud cannot be allowed to hang over Mlambo-Ngcuka indefinitely. ”It cannot be healthy for our country.”
Guests
According to the Inkatha Freedom Party’s Hennie Bekker, an investigation is needed into who paid for the accommodation and meals of Mlambo-Ngcuka’s guests on the trip. Her husband, two children, and friend Thuthukile Mazibuko-Skweyiya went along for the ride.
It can surely not be argued, said Trent, that ”if you are the deputy president or the president of this country you have free use of state resources to go where you please, whenever you please, for whatever reason you please”.
Godi said the committee had received correspondence from Public Protector Lawrence Mushwana stating he would not launch a parallel probe if Scopa were to investigate the matter. Mushwana had been asked by the DA and Freedom Front Plus to look into the trip.
He will now write back that no Scopa investigation will be forthcoming, Godi said.
Mushwana’s spokesperson could not be reached for an update. — Sapa