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The ANC has reportedly launched an investigation into the alleged misappropriation of R50-million of parliamentary allowances by members of the party leadership, including the former Chief Whip Mr Nyami Booi. But the misappropriation of these allowances is not an internal ANC issue - it is a national issue, relevant to every citizen in this country. South African taxpayers pay millions of Rands each year to the ANC to help fulfil the requirement in Section 57(2)(c) of the Constitution, that Parliament must provide for "financial assistance to each party represented in the Assembly in proportion to its representation, to enable the party and its leader to perform their functions in the Assembly effectively". The Draft Party Allowances Policy prescribes that parties must submit audited annual financial statements to the Secretary to Parliament. It also defines what the allowances are to be spent on: the alleged "houses in up-market Cape Town suburbs", "parties" and "expensive hotel stays" reported in the weekend press are not on the list, and are clearly not required for the ANC to perform their functions effectively. I have requested the DA's Chief Whip to write to the acting-Secretary to Parliament, Mr Michael Coetzee, to ask if the ANC have submitted the audited financials relating to their Parliamentary allowances to his office this year. If the financial statements were submitted then he has asked the Secretary if they reflect appropriate use of Parliamentary allowances as defined in the Constitution and the Draft Party Allowances policy. If they have not been submitted, or if they do not reflect appropriate use of these allowances, then he has requested that this matter be taken to the Parliamentary Oversight Authority. The Allowances Policy allows the Secretary to withhold funds to parties if he has queries related to the spending of allowances. If state money has been misappropriated, then Parliament must take urgent and appropriate action.