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The Democratic Alliance is in possession of a facsimile sent by N.F. Tseana, the acting Correctional Services Regional Commissioner for Limpopo, Mpumalanga and the North West region, authorising payment for transport to and from a POPCRU event on 25 August 2009. This is wrong. Public money cannot be used to fund union activity and the Regional Commissioner is in breach of this principle.

A copy of the facsimile is available on request.

In authorising the payment, Tseana writes: "As the department is supposed to benefit from the positive message that POPCRU has been preaching throughout the country, this office would not have objection against use of state transport to and from the meeting..."

There are two possible explanations for this contravention. First, the Regional Commissioner does not properly understand the strict protocol which requires public money to be used in the public's interest (as opposed to POPCRU's particular agenda). Or, second, in authorising the expenditure, the Regional Commissioner was trying to find favour with POPCRU. Regardless, both are problematic and I will now be taking up this matter in Parliament.

I will submit questions to the Minister of Correctional Services, with the purpose of identifying how much this has cost the South African taxpayer and also, but just as importantly, to determine what action will be taken against the acting Regional Commissioner. I will ask if any other POPCRU or other union events have been funded by the Department over the course of the last five years.

The enquiry about consequences is significant because, under the ANC, maladministration is often met by a distinct lack of consequence which, in turn, has implications for good governance. If public officials are able to violate regulations without fear of being held to account, standards drop and precedents are set which run contrary to the public interest and the drive to establish an efficient and well-managed public service. Nowhere is this problem more acute than with regards to the Department of Correctional Service.

The ANC administration has a long history of misusing public funds for party political purposes. It is disturbing that this trend now seems to be extending to the unions as well - a sign perhaps of the influence that they have on Jacob Zuma's administration.

Obviously the state has to explain its role in this matter but, equally, POPCRU needs to account for its behaviour. Requesting state funding for a union matter is deeply problematic. Its activity, regardless of its nature or purpose is entirely separate from the state and to blur the line is to compromise its own integrity. It too owes the South African public an explanation.