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Parliament’s two Houses – the National Council of Provinces and the National Assembly meeting in separate sittings – today supported a recommendation of the Executive Authority that Secretary to Parliament Mr Zingile Dingani be dismissed with immediate effect.

The recommendation was based on a report from the chairperson of the disciplinary inquiry into Mr Dingani’s receipt of a salary advance in December 2011. The advance was used to build a wall at his private residence, in contravention of the Financial Management of Parliament Act (FMPA), the inquiry found.

The chairperson of the inquiry notified Parliament on 6 September that he recommended Mr Dingani be dismissed with immediate effect for serious misconduct.

The recommendation for dismissal was based on Mr Dingani being found guilty of two serious charges of misconduct.

The chairperson of the disciplinary hearing found that Mr Dingani, in his application for approval of the salary advance to the Executive Authority, National Assembly Speaker Mr Max Sisulu and National Council of Provinces Chairperson Mr Mninwa Mahlangu, had:
· Misled Parliament’s Executive Authority, by misrepresenting to it that Parliament’s policies made provision for granting advances against salary in exceptional circumstances. It was further found that the Secretary did not disclose all material facts in requesting a salary advance.
· Obtained an interest-free loan of R186 000 from Parliament in contravention of Parliament’s procedures and/or practices and applicable legislation (FMPA).

The chairperson of the disciplinary hearing found that Parliament’s policies did not make provision for salary advances, nor was there a long-standing practice of doing so.