Former Minister Balfour needs to be questioned in Correctional Services housing scandal

The Democratic Alliance (DA) is seeking answers on whether or not former Correctional Services Minister Ngconde Balfour approved his wife's accommodation in the Correctional Services housing scandal.

Reports have implicated Thozama Mqobi-Balfour, who is the Regional Correctional Services Commissioner in Gauteng, in the rental of a R30 000 per month golf estate house at taxpayer's expense - even though she had a perfectly acceptable official residence at her disposal. The National Commissioner, Xoliswa Sibeko, who lives in the same estate, has been placed on precautionary suspension pending an investigation, and yet she has not.

Correctional Services spokesperson Manelisi Wolela implied during a radio interview this morning that the accommodation decision had indeed been approved by former Minister Balfour. If this is indeed the case, it points to gross conflict of interest, as Mqobi-Balfour is former Correctional Services Minister Ngconde Balfour's wife, as well as wasteful and fruitless expenditure. Was Balfour in effect, through his wife, approving his own lavish housing at the taxpayer's expense?

Minister Balfour's involvement in this matter must quite clearly now be interrogated. The DA will insist that these matters be added to the Public Service Commission's investigation.

Statement issued by James Selfe MP, Democratic Alliance shadow minister of correctional services, July 14 2009

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