Parliament funds used to build wall
2012-03-18 12:14
Johannesburg - Parliamentary secretary Zingile Dingani used the institution's money on his private home, the Sunday Times reported.
Dingani spent R186 000 in parliamentary funds on building a boundary wall at his home, in Cape Town's Panorama suburb, he confirmed to the paper through Parliament spokesperson Luzuko Jacobs.
"A security assessment was carried out on the basis of a series of reported security breaches at the house... This assessment was done by the state security agencies... The work which was carried out was in response to, and based on, the recommendations of the various reports submitted as part of their assessment," Jacobs said.
In 2009, a senior management meeting, chaired by Dingani, had agreed that financial assistance to parliamentary staff, including loans, be stopped.
"No further advances on salary will be given to employees," the weekly reported, quoting from the minutes of the meeting.
Dingani, who earned R1.8 million a year, was meant to repay the money in R10 000 monthly instalments, but December's instalment was refunded to him.
Jacobs told the paper the transaction had been approved by Parliament.
The money would be advanced to Dingani on the understanding he would repay it, he said.
- SAPA
