Scores of members of parliament are enduring a nail-biting weekend as they wonder if they are among the 40 being charged on Monday for fraud relating to the R17.5-million travel scam.
It is understood that at least one member of the executive is among the 40 due to appear in court this week, along with what was termed a “disproportionate amount” of Western Cape-based MPs.
The case is already being billed as one of the biggest mass fraud trials of democratic lawmakers in history. African National Congress chief whip Mbulelo Goniwe, who has called the travel scam one of the biggest crises parliament has faced, said firm action would be taken against those found guilty.
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The Scorpions have thrown a veil of secrecy around the identities of the 40 since their long-awaited announcement on Friday that the travel voucher scam investigation was complete.
The DA welcomed the completion of the investigation Often accused of unnecessary leaks and rapped over the knuckles for this by parliament last year, the Scorpions seem to have decided to go to ground with all further information. Of the 40, 27 are current MPs and 13 are former MPs.
“This would undoubtedly be a tense time for anyone whose name had been mentioned in connection with the travel scam”, said Democratic Alliance national spokesperson Helen Zille. She said a list of 120 people had already been published.
Like most parties, the DA welcomed the completion of the investigation, but Zille questioned whether the 40 names were the full and final list.
“As the official opposition we will make sure that the matter is not brought to rest with a few scapegoats.”
The prosecution’s announcement came in the same week that the ANC accused the investigators of dragging their feet and leaving a cloud of uncertainty over parliament. But the fraud charges will nevertheless cast a shadow over the opening of parliament on February 11.
'The 40 members concerned will be notified'
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