Cape Town — National Assembly (NA) speaker, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, has one week to respond to the allegations that she increased the salary of Parliament’s secretary, Xolile George.
It is believed that Mapisa-Nqakula unilaterally hiked George’s salary by a whopping 70%, following his appointment in June 2022. George’s annual salary went up from R2.6million per annum, to R4.4 million per annum, earning more than President Cyril Ramaphosa. Democratic Alliance (DA) chief whip, Siviwe Gwarube, said this is a serious matter, SABC News reported.
“Now discovering that there was a unilateral salary hike is the reason why we have reported the matter to the Powers and Privileges Committee for it to investigate because we’re of the view that the Speaker is likely to have misled Parliament and if that is the case then it is a very serious matter.” Gwarube said.
Parliament’s Powers and Privileges committee has given National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula a week to provide a written explanation for increasing the salary of Secretary Xolile George. DA Chief Whip Siviwe Gwarube unpacks this.
Watch: https://t.co/Dm7peIRPTX pic.twitter.com/3wbniJNGQL
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) February 27, 2024
According to EWN, Parliament’s Powers and Privileges Committee has given Mapisa-Nqakula until next Monday to provide written explanations for the salary bump.
It is well-known that Parliament could not afford the former CEO of the South African Local Government Association, who was earning an annual salary of over R5 million rand. However, Mapisa-Nqakula said he agreed to a R2.6 million salary.
The Powers and Privileges Committee said said it was considering whether she breached her oath of office and misled Parliament by adjusting George’s salary to R4.4 million.
Besides the DA’s report to the committee, it alleged that she excluded other candidates from applying for the job at a higher salary and delayed the process by a year to ensure George was appointed.
The powers and privileges committee said if the matter proceeds to an inquiry, Mapisa-Nqakula would be invited to respond in person to the charges.
In the dying days of her term, National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula must defend herself against misconduct allegations relating to the controversial salary of Parliament’s secretary, Xolile George – the institution’s top official | @JasonFelixhttps://t.co/p8JU375YBN
— News24 🇿🇦 (@News24) February 26, 2024
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Compiled by Matthew Petersen
