A trip to New York where Eastern Cape MEC Pemmy Majodina spent R3000 per day has come back to haunt her.
Majodina was accused of demanding R15000 for subsistence and travel (S&T) from her then department of social development and special programmes as part of her eight-day trip in 2012. The claim was at the time believed to be four times the amount she qualified for.
The scandal was exposed by the Daily Dispatch in September 2012 and COPE asked the public protector to probe Majodina, who is now sport, recreation, arts and culture (Dsrac) MEC.
Advocate Thuli Madonsela’s investigation, titled Permitted Benefits, was released yesterday. She said the allegations were substantiated and what Majodina had done was “improper or unlawful enrichment”.
“By accepting the excessive amount and participating in the irregular process, her conduct colluded in the misappropriation of public funds.
“Her failure to rectify the mistake after it was uncovered was discomforting.
“MEC Majodina, who is bound by the Executive Ethics Code and Ministerial Handbook, insists that she did nothing wrong. Her stance potentially set a bad example,” said Madonsela.
Dsrac spokesman Andile Nduna said he had been made aware of the report by the media.
“We are engaging with the content of the report and we will, in the stipulated 30-day notice, respond accordingly. The MEC remains committed to clean governance and ethical conduct and will abide by the law,” said Nduna.
In 2012, Majodina and her chief of staff Nozibele Majikija were part of a delegation who travelled to New York to attend a conference from September 9 to 14.
The department prepared Majodina an allowance of R3711.25 per day to cover food and other incidentals. This was based on guidelines released by the national Department of Public Service and Administration.
Majodina allegedly demanded R15000 more for lunch for the period she was staying in the US.
The department paid her more than R18000 and Majikija R6700.
Madonsela said Majodina maintains she was entitled to the money.
She did not submit receipts or return the money because she understood the money to have been for S&T, “not an advance requiring justification through receipts”.
Majodina is quoted as saying: “I did not do anything wrong.”
Madonsela found that she was entitled to R10603.58 for the trip, not the R18721.00 paid to her.
“She was entitled to R1325.45 per day and this was to cover breakfast, lunch, dinner and incidentals.”
Madonsela highlighted that, despite having been asked to return the excess, Majodina failed to pay back the money.
“Majodina did not refund the excess public funds paid to her in connection with her trip despite having been aware of the misappropriation of funds in her favour and her consequent undue enrichment at state expense.”
Madonsela said the department’s HoD unlawfully condoned the overpayment and concluded that Eastern Cape Premier Phumulo Masualle should consider taking disciplinary action against Majodina, the HoD should rescind the condonation and the R8117.67 should be recovered. — bonganif@dispatch.co.za
Big Apple junket bites MEC
Majodina was accused of demanding R15000 for subsistence and travel (S&T) from her then department of social development and special programmes as part of her eight-day trip in 2012. The claim was at the time believed to be four times the amount she qualified for.
The scandal was exposed by the Daily Dispatch in September 2012 and COPE asked the public protector to probe Majodina, who is now sport, recreation, arts and culture (Dsrac) MEC.
Advocate Thuli Madonsela’s investigation, titled Permitted Benefits, was released yesterday. She said the allegations were substantiated and what Majodina had done was “improper or unlawful enrichment”.
“By accepting the excessive amount and participating in the irregular process, her conduct colluded in the misappropriation of public funds.
“Her failure to rectify the mistake after it was uncovered was discomforting.
“MEC Majodina, who is bound by the Executive Ethics Code and Ministerial Handbook, insists that she did nothing wrong. Her stance potentially set a bad example,” said Madonsela.
Dsrac spokesman Andile Nduna said he had been made aware of the report by the media.
“We are engaging with the content of the report and we will, in the stipulated 30-day notice, respond accordingly. The MEC remains committed to clean governance and ethical conduct and will abide by the law,” said Nduna.
In 2012, Majodina and her chief of staff Nozibele Majikija were part of a delegation who travelled to New York to attend a conference from September 9 to 14.
The department prepared Majodina an allowance of R3711.25 per day to cover food and other incidentals. This was based on guidelines released by the national Department of Public Service and Administration.
Majodina allegedly demanded R15000 more for lunch for the period she was staying in the US.
The department paid her more than R18000 and Majikija R6700.
Madonsela said Majodina maintains she was entitled to the money.
She did not submit receipts or return the money because she understood the money to have been for S&T, “not an advance requiring justification through receipts”.
Majodina is quoted as saying: “I did not do anything wrong.”
Madonsela found that she was entitled to R10603.58 for the trip, not the R18721.00 paid to her.
“She was entitled to R1325.45 per day and this was to cover breakfast, lunch, dinner and incidentals.”
Madonsela highlighted that, despite having been asked to return the excess, Majodina failed to pay back the money.
“Majodina did not refund the excess public funds paid to her in connection with her trip despite having been aware of the misappropriation of funds in her favour and her consequent undue enrichment at state expense.”
Madonsela said the department’s HoD unlawfully condoned the overpayment and concluded that Eastern Cape Premier Phumulo Masualle should consider taking disciplinary action against Majodina, the HoD should rescind the condonation and the R8117.67 should be recovered. — bonganif@dispatch.co.za
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