Parliament to abandon debt owed by Travelgate MPs

By Mandisi Tyulu
01 October 2004

It has emerged that Parliament's oversight authority has decided to abandon the debt owed to the legislature by MPs implicated in the Travel gate saga.

The Democratic Alliance has slammed the decision which will see Parliament buy back the claim from liquidators Bathong Travel at a reduced cost of 200-thousand-rands.

It is reported that the initial amount was over three-million-rands. But since it has taken more than the prescribed three years to settle some of the claims the amount has diminished.

D.A spokesperson Lindiwe Mazibuko says this decision is effectively a double blow to South African tax payers not only is this massive misuse of public money being brush under the carpet but the South African public must also fit the bail for parliament’s political solution misuse of funds.