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.

We are requesting the Public Protector to investigate:

• Whether any provincial or national laws have been contravened;
• whether similar abuses are taking place in other provinces;
• how much public money has been spent on luxury vehicles and drivers; and
• which MPLs are involved in each case and the appropriate sanction, if any.

The DA will also continue to push for the full details of these travel costs, including petrol and accommodation for the MPLs and their drivers, salaries for chauffeurs and the reasons for each trip.

Public representatives should act in the interests of the people, not in the interests of their own pockets and comfort. We will do everything in our power to expose the details of these travel abuses and name and shame those responsible.

Statement issued by John Steenhuisen MP, DA Shadow Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, April 12 2012

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