Premier Ebrahim Rasool will be grilled again next week in the scandal that has blown up over expenditure on Safety And Security MEC Leonard Ramatlakane's home, this time regarding possible incorrect statements made to the national Auditor-General, Terence Nombembe.
This emerged on Wednesday when Nombembe told the provincial legislature that during a meeting Rasool had held with himself and Scopa chairperson Chris Stali, Rasool had indicated that he was not aware of the terms of reference of a resolution to investigate MEC Leonard Ramatlakane's department of community safety.
Members of the House immediately pointed out to Nombembe that Rasool's statement was incorrect because he (Rasool) had been in the House when the terms were tabled and subsequently adopted.
This new development comes barely a day after Rasool apologised for making incorrect statements to the provincial legislature about a recommendation to condone over- expenditure on security improvements at Ramatlakane's home.
It has been widely reported that Ramatlakane's department is in disarray and it received qualified audit reports for two years running.
In December 2006 the legislature resolved that the department of community safety be fully investigated. This was to include Ramatlakane's benefits - his car allowance and security improvements to his home.
The investigation was delayed until November, but two weeks ago Rasool ordered that the AG, who had arrived in the offices of the department of community safety, leave the departmental premises.
The AG was to have reported back to the House about the investigation on December 20.
On Wednesday Nombembe confirmed to the legislature that the investigation would go ahead "almost immediately", while the Speaker Shaun Byneveldt remarked that it was not an "ordinary investigation".
The DA said it was "deeply concerned that there is a possibility that Rasool has again made an incorrect statement" and said he would be questioned on the matter at a House sitting next week.
Depending on Rasool's replies further action might follow, the DA said.
The DA said in a statement that this was "another setback to Rasool in his long campaign to protect Ramatlakane".
"Rasool will simply not understand that Ramatlakane's actions and mismanagement are indefensible," the statement said.
"Rasool had in no way objected to these terms of reference. Both the ANC and DA members were insistent that the terms of reference remain unchanged regardless of what other investigations Rasool had initiated himself," the statement said.
"The DA reiterates that now that the ad hoc committee's findings of intentionally incorrect statements by Rasool have been adopted by the House and that Rasool has apologised for them, Rasool's word can no longer be believed and that it is impossible for him to continue as Premier or as a member of the Western Cape Provincial Legislature," the DA said.
Rasool's office had not commented at the time of going to press.