Public Protector must investigate Chauffeurgate
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has today written to the Public Protector requesting that she launch a full investigation into what we believe is the widespread abuse of public money to pay for chauffeur-driven vehicles for Members of Provincial Legislatures.
In Limpopo, the DA has acquired confidential documents showing how ANC MPLs are being chauffeur-driven in luxury Chrysler Voyagers for personal and party-political purposes.
The documents detail how the ANC Chief Whip, Jan Tsiane, was able to get the legislature to bankroll trips for MPLs to ANC centenary celebrations and Women's League events. A reliable source also informs us that, in one instance, an ANC MPL was driven to Pretoria for a personal medical appointment.
In KwaZulu-Natal, the DA has revealed how 22 MPLs now have full-time chauffeurs driving them to appointments across the province. These MPLs constitute a third of the legislature's members, with 17 coming from the ANC and 5 from the IFP.
The chauffeurs were appointed as part of a new legislature policy allowing MPLs who are physically incapable of driving to be transported for official duties. But, of the 22 MPLs currently using drivers, at least 20 are in perfect physical condition.