By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) wants an investigation into Parliament secretary Xolile George salary hike of almost 70% – taking his pay to R4.4 million annually.
According to a Sunday Times report, National Assembly speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula and NCOP chair Amos Masondo quietly approved the salary increase for George and then lied about it.
George was CEO of the South African Local Government Association (Salga) before applying for the role of Secretary to Parliament last year.
Mapisa-Nqakula and Masondo publicly agreed in June 2022 that George would be paid R2.6 million a year and told other political parties and the public that George was happy to take a pay cut from his previous job as CEO of Salga, where he was paid over R5 million a year.
George’s deputy Baby Tyawa — the long-term acting secretary since mid-2017, who was suspended in October 2022 — received a R2.387-million total income for the 2022/23 financial year.
When secretary Gengezi Mgidlana went on special leave in June 2017 pending investigations into claims including financial mismanagement and abuse of power, Tyawa was appointed acting Secretary to Parliament. Her acting stint continued after both Houses of Parliament in October 2019 voted for Mgidlana’s instant dismissal after disciplinary guilty verdicts until George’s appointment.
“This is almost double what Mapisa-Nqakula personally committed to in the National Assembly when the appointment was made, and the decision was brought before the House,” says the DA’s Chief Whip, Siviwe Gwarube.
“The DA will be lodging an urgent complaint with the Powers and Privileges Committee to investigate the Executive Authority for this breach of their oath of office and the betrayal of the principles of transparency and accountability.
“There are glaring breaches of their Code of Conduct, Code of Ethics for Members of the Executive Authority and their responsibility for the financial management of Parliament by both Mapisa-Nqakula and Masondo.
“More importantly, they have violated the trust that is placed on them to act in the best financial interest of an institution that is battling to fulfil its constitutional obligations due tight financial constraints.
Gwarube says the revelations of George’s salary hike comes as Parliament is struggling to finance the rebuilding of its fire-damaged buildings.
“To rebuild this institution will require a secretary to Parliament and an executive authority that is committed to the healthy financial management of Parliament.
“The allegations that face Speaker Mapisa-Nqakula and Chairperson Masondo suggest that they are not suited for the task ahead.
“They have not conducted the recruitment of the secretary to Parliament in an open and transparent manner.
“The actions of the speaker do not instill any public confidence and now cast doubt on the institution’s own financial management.”
Parliament tabled its annual reports on 4 September, according to the Announcements, Tablings and Committee Reports (ATC). The national legislature traditionally is among the first to do so, alongside the South African Reserve Bank. According to the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) departments, entities and most State-owned Entities (SOEs) must submit annual reports by the end of September.
Parliament obtained a clean audit for the 2022/23 financial year, the ninth consecutive such finding, according to the annual report.
“The continued trend of clean audits underscores the institution’s responsible management of public funds and resources, while also reflecting its dedication to upholding the principles of good governance,” said Parliament’s 2022/23 annual report.