MEC repays ill-gained state funds

EASTERN Cape department of sports, recreation, arts and culture MEC Pemmy Majodina has paid back state funds she had wrongly spent on a trip to New York.

She was found by the public protector to have spent R15 000 more than entitled on subsistence and travel (S&T) for her trip.

At the time, Majodina was social development and special programmes MEC and the department gave her more than R18 000 for her trip in September 2012. But she only qualified for a lesser amount.

After a report in the Daily Dispatch, the Congress of the People reported the matter to the public protector.

The protector, Advocate Thuli Madonsela, in her report, “Permitted Benefits”, called on Eastern Cape Premier Phumulo Masualle to take disciplinary action against Majodina.

Yesterday, Eastern Cape government spokeswoman Nomfanelo Kota said Majodina paid back the money on April 20. “The office of the premier can confirm that MEC Pemmy Majodina paid an amount of R15 000 to the department of social development,” said Kota.

In early April, Madonsela’s report said the MEC had been accused of demanding an additional R15 000 for S&T as part of her trip. She said what Majodina had done was “improper or unlawful enrichment”.

Apparently, the department had prepared Majodina an allowance of R3 711.25 a day to cover food and other incidentals based on guidelines released by the national Department of Public Service and Administration.

Majodina, who was travelling with her chief of staff, Nozibele Majikija, at the time, allegedly demanded an extra R15 000 for the time she was in the US. She was given more than R18 000 and Majikija got R6 700.

Asked about this, Majodina apparently told Madonsela she was entitled to the money and had not submitted receipts or returned the money because she understood the money to have have been for S&T, not an advance requiring justification through receipts.

Majikija repaid the money as soon as she found out that she had been overpaid.

Kota said the matter had now been laid to rest. — dispatch.co.za