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MMEMEZI: DA MAKES SUBMISSION TO INTEGRITY COMMISSIONER

I have submitted today a written submission to the Gauteng Legislature’s Integrity Commissioner, Dr Ralph Mgijima, concerning the allegations about Gauteng MEC Humphrey Mmemezi’s use of his departmental credit card and his involvement in an accident with a departmental vehicle.

This submission is made to ensure that the scope of the Integrity Commissioner’s investigation is not too narrow and that all allegations are investigated..

The DA’s submission deals with the following matters.

· The utilisation of the credit card issued to the MEC by his department. The DA wants to know whether the purchasing of groceries, electronics and clothingconstituted a breach of the provisions of the Ministerial Handbook prescribing how official credit cards may be used.

· The procurement of a painting for R10 000,00 via McDonald’s Silverton. The DA wants to know whether this purchase transgressed the provisions of the Ministerial Handbook’s prescripts on the use of an official credit card and whether the purchase transgressed the any Government supply chain management regulations.

· With regards payments made into a departmental platinum credit card that may belong to the Department of Economic Development that refers to the MEC as the deponent. Why these deposits were made? Why does it involve the Gauteng Department for Economic Development?

· The accident involving his department’s BMW X5 which he claimed he drove during the accident.

o The DA wants to know whether an accident report number exists for this accident.

o Whether a claim was lodged with the insurance to repair the vehicle and whether the insurance company is willing to settle the claim.

o Why the vehicle is being put up for auction before it has been repaired.

· Whether the MEC misled the Gauteng Legislature in his answers he provided previously in reply to DA questions about these matters.

The DA’s submission consists over 36 pages and we request the Integrity Commissioner to investigate 13 allegations with regards to the aforementioned matters.

This submission comes on the back of the MEC refusing to answer the DA’s questions about his credit card and the accident due to the matter being referred to the Integrity Commissioner of the Gauteng Legislature. The acting speaker, in aruling from the chair, concurred with the MEC that he did not have to answer these questions until the matter had been dealt with by the Integrity Commissioner.

Media reports suggest that the MEC only submitted his written request for an investigation by the Integrity Commissioner after he informed the Legislature that the matter was referred. This forms part of the DA’s request to investigate whether the MEC had misled the Legislature.

The DA calls on the Integrity Commissioner to expedite his investigation into the matters raised and calls on MEC Mmemezi to provide full cooperation in order to ensure that the truth around these matters are revealed in totality.