Cape Town – The Democratic Alliance said on Monday the allegations that SAA chairwoman Dudu Myeni abused more than half a million rand on luxury travel in her capacity as head of a water board warrants a probe by the Public Protector.
"The DA will write to the Public Protector, Advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane, to request that she launch an investigation into chairperson of the Mhlathuze Water Board, Dudu Myeni’s, flagrant abuse of public funds," the DA spokeswoman for human settlements, Tania Baker, said.
The Sunday press reported that Myeni spent R678 761 on five-star hotels, business-class travel, hotel room service and a limousine ride during 23 trips booked and paid for by the Mhlathuze board.
Baker said since the Pietermaritzburg High Court found in November that the extension of her contract should be set aside, she should be made to pay back all the money she was paid in that position after her contract was unlawfully renewed in February 2015.
"The truth is that Myeni should not have been allowed to be in this position at all," Baker said.
"The Mhlathuze Water Authority’s 2014/15 and 2015/16 annual reports indicate that Myeni was paid R538 000 in 2015 with an additional R508 000 in 2016. Since a court has ruled that her appointment from February 2015 to date was unlawful, Myeni should pay back the full R1 046 000."