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I will today be writing to the Chair of the Parliamentary Oversight Authority (POA), Speaker of the National Assembly Max Sisulu, to request that he appoints an independent investigation into the apparent misuse of parliamentary funds for renovations at the private residence of the Secretary to Parliament, Zingile Dingani.

Reports indicate that the Offices of the Speaker and the Chair of the National Council of Provinces, Johannes Mahlangu, approved a salary advance for Mr Dingani so that he could pay for a boundary wall to be built at his private home. The wall reportedly cost R186 000.

The advance to Mr Dingani was reportedly approved following “security breaches” at the property.

Given that the Office of the Speaker is implicated in this matter, it is therefore appropriate that an independent body (rather than the POA, of which the Speaker is Chair) investigates the allocation of funds to Mr Dingani.

This investigation must answer the following questions:

Why the salary advance requested by Mr Dingani was permitted, given that Mr Dingani does not hold a position that has a high security risk. In addition, many parliamentary staffers experience “security breaches” at their homes, but it is up to them to pay for improved security measures. The same rule should apply to Mr Dingani.
What the details are of the policy that Parliament is reportedly drafting dealing with security measures at employees’ homes.
What mechanisms are in place to clarify the circumstances under which Parliament can allocate funds to employees, as required by The Financial Management of Parliament Act, and in addition, what steps can be taken to ensure that these mechanisms are strengthened.

If the investigation does not find satisfactory justification for the allocation made to Mr Dingani in accordance with Parliament’s official financial rules and regulations, the matter amounts to irregular expenditure and those implicated should then face the full force of the law.

Parliament has a vital role to play in holding the executive to account. It must ensure that its own affairs are managed with transparency, and that those who misuse parliamentary resources are held to account, if the integrity of this institution is to be maintained.