Twenty-one MPs will soon appear before a special parliamentary disciplinary committee in connection with the abuse of parliamentary travel vouchers, National Assembly Speaker Baleka Mbete announced on Wednesday.
Nine of them are among the 16 current and former MPs convicted and fined in October after pleading guilty to theft and fraud charges in the Cape High Court.
The pleas were in terms of plea-bargain agreements with the Scorpions.
Cape Judge President John Hlophe imposed sentences ranging from R25 000 to R120 000, with alternatives of three to five years’ imprisonment.
Speaking in the House on Wednesday, Mbete said all the relevant court documents — requested about two weeks ago by Parliament’s presiding officers — relating to nine current MPs had been received.
”It is now incumbent on the House to decide what steps it should take in respect of those members,” she said.
On a previous occasion last year in similar circumstances, the rules committee agreed the speaker should follow the disciplinary procedures available in the parliamentary rules.
”Following that precedent, I am formally requesting the deputy speaker to convene a disciplinary committee without delay to advise me on appropriate action against the nine members concerned,” she said.
Mbete said the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) had further informed her that in conducting its investigations it had identified 12 members of the House as having used their travel vouchers for vehicle hire in contravention of parliamentary rules and regulations.
However, after preliminary enquiries, the NPA had decided not to prosecute these 12 members. ”I am also referring the available information in respect of those members to the disciplinary committee for advice.”
Mbete added it is hoped the matter can be expedited. — Sapa