UDM wants 'Travelgate' reports
2004-08-19 16:15
Cape Town - MPs will need more information from Parliament if they are to properly debate the travel voucher fraud scam in the national assembly next week, United Democratic Movement leader Bantu Holomisa said on Thursday.
In a letter to Speaker Baleka Mbete, Holomisa officially asked to be provided with two reports in preparation for Tuesday's debate.
"Firstly, we would like a report regarding your predecessor's (Frene Ginwala) actions and decisions when she summoned certain MPs to a meeting regarding this matter, as reported in the media.
"It has been alleged that some of the MPs involved were urged or ordered to repay bills related to questionable travel transactions.
"If that was the case, what were the exact resolutions of the said meeting? How many MPs attended this meeting? When were the SAPS and Scorpions involved?
"Was the decision made that MPs who repay would not be prosecuted? Why were these decisions and the overall content of this meeting never dealt with by parliament in an official plenary?" Holomisa wrote.
Interim forensic report
He also wanted a copy of the interim forensic report prepared by an auditing firm on the matter.
Both these reports were necessary to debate the matter properly in a plenary.
"It is inconceivable that parliament could call a discussion on this matter a debate, if the participating parties do not have the facts to debate upon."
Holomisa urged Mbete to supply all parties with these reports urgently.
"The cloud that this matter has cast over parliament threatens to engulf the entire institution and taint every single member.
"The presiding officers have been aware of this travel scam for a year now.
"We fully appreciate the need for diligent and careful investigation, but it does not exclude the fact that the time for transparency has long since arrived.
"Hence, we are requesting the above-mentioned reports," he wrote.
- SAPA