THE WHIPPERY REPORT ON THE KPMG FINDINGS:
Following the Forensic Audit by KPMG on the finances of COPE, the COPE Whips in Parliament are in the process of compiling charges against several of its senior parliamentary office bearers. Suspension letters will be delivered to the affected members as soon as possible.
Charges will be laid against Mr Mbazima Shilowa, who, as Accounting Officer, included the submission of unauthorized Annual Financial Statements to Parliament containing false declarations presented to the Finance Department of Parliament during March of this year.
The Whippery therefore, recommends to the Party that Mr Shilowa and Ms Mashiane both be subjected to requisite sanction for the duration of their respective disciplinary hearings. It should be noted that their actions were related to parliament and parliamentary operational issues, and should not be confused with other party political issues which are dealt with by the national leadership.
Other matters to be put before the party's disciplinary hearings include:
•· The prima facie evidence by the KPMG Audit with allegations against Mr. Malusi Booi for tender fraud.
•· Mr Shilowa's bookkeeper, Ms Pat Gamede who has reportedly been unwilling to cooperate with the Whippery or the Forensic investigations with key information and property of the Party alleged to be in her possession.
•· Mr Shilowa's legal representative and member of COPE, John Ngcebetsha, for alleged personal travel and accommodation claims.
•· The recovery of R2.1million of the COPE's Parliamentary money irregularly spent on the St. George's Hotel May 2010 Conference, authorized by Mr. Shilowa and Ms Mashiane.
•· An amount totaling R18 500 to be recovered from Mr Shilowa for his personal security services.
•· Allegations of personal travel expenses incurred by JJ Tabane, advisor to the former parliamentary leader Dr Dandala.
Efforts to recover more monies and equipment from other MPs and staff members involved have also commenced.
COPE met with the Parliamentary Secretary on Friday to apologise for the false annual financial statements for 2009/2010 which were presented by Mr Shilowa. Mr Shilowa admitted to submitting unsubstantiated and erroneously approved documentation, with fictitious signatures and expenditure items to Parliament, which placed the party in breach of parliamentary policies.
COPE undertook measures to correct the situation with Parliament, and to present accurate statements which reflect the actual nature of the anomalies regarding the R5 million transferred from the COPE Parliamentary account to the COPE Head Office account.
The former Chief Whip may therefore have to appear before the Ethics Committee of Parliament, to explain why he made these gross misrepresentations to Parliament, which constitutes a breach of the oath of office that all MP's make before taking up their parliamentary seats.
Statement issued by Phillip Dexter, COPE head of communications, November 8 2010
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