IFP Appeals to KZN Govt to Scrap Legal Defense Scheme for ‘Amigos'
The IFP has urged the KZN provincial cabinet not to proceed with the reported plans for state-funded legal aid for politicians and civil servants charged in the R144- million 'amigos' government racketeering, fraud and corruption trial.
"Amigos' trial is a political affair, it has nothing to do with provincial administration or service delivery and as such it cannot justifiably become an item of government expenditure," said Leader of the Official Opposition in KZN Blessed Gwala MPL.
The IFP believes state-funded legal aid for politicians and would compromise the integrity of the provincial government in the same way the integrity of the provincial legislature has been compromised by the role of Speaker Peggy Nkonyeni in the amigos' saga.
"We believe that the ANC politicians involved in the amigos saga and their associates are hiding behind prominent positions in the provincial government and the civil service to get the taxpayer to foot the bill for what is clearly a political affair," said Gwala.
In addition to the underlying principle, the IFP also finds the government's plans for legal aid for 'amigos' to be in conflict with the need for austerity given the recent history of fiscal overspending in KZN.
"At a time when KZN government departments are obliged to implement stringent cost-cutting measures to stay within budget, it is unacceptable that government should even contemplate such expenditure," said Gwala.
The IFP feels that state-funded legal defense for 'amigos' would set an unwelcome precedent for further erosion of the boundary between the needs of the ruling party and the welfare of the country.
"We have commissioned a legal opinion on the feasibility of such government expenditure and we will scrutinise the upcoming provincial budget for any evidence of such spending," said Gwala.
Statement issued by Blessed Gwala, IFP leader of the official opposition in the KwaZulu-Natal legislature, January 22 2012
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