Gabaake still owes govt rentals

BAME PIET
Staff Writer | Tuesday September 21, 2010 00:00

 

A report released by the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) accuses Gabaake of failure to clear the arrears with P10,500 still outstanding. The PAC says that an Accounting Officer revealed that the former MP had at some point been paying the debt using personal cheques that were dishonoured by the bank. Gabaake then sought to pay the debt through a direct deduction from his pension. But the pension managers said they do not make such arrangements. '..Gabaake reportedly offered an alternative of paying P500 per month, and had since started paying, though irregularly. The last payment was on May 12, 2010,' the latest PAC report says.

The former MP confirmed that he is still paying the arrears and he is on the verge of clearing the debt. However, he said the ministry should take responsibility for delayed payment because it has rejected his proposals. He said that he had offered to pay the debt through cheques but the ministry responsible for Parliament refused. 'It's a lie that my cheques bounced,' he said. He added that he offered to make the payments through a stop order through his bank but the ministry refused to provide the account number. Later, he decided to pay by cash and he is left with a small amount to settle the debt, he said. Gabaake was MP from 1994-1999.

Meanwhile, the PAC has discovered that P16 million was unprocedurally and illegally transferred from the National Disaster Relief Fund under the Office of the President to set up the Directorate on Intelligence and Security (DIS) in 2008. The response from the Ministry of Defence, Justice and Security has been that the money was spent properly.

MPs who sit in PAC told the press yesterday that they started examining the books of at least 17 government departments, three independent departments and 16 parastatals from September 20 and they will finish the task October 15. The committee undertook a national tour from August 29 to September 4 to communicate the checks and balances that exist in managing government finances. The tour was meant to ensure public confidence on accountability as well as sensitise the people about the role of Parliament and MPs in oversight and legislation. 

The committee comprises Samsom Guma (chairperson), Nehemiah Modubule, Edwin Batshu, Isaac Mabiletsa, Mephato Reatile, Moiseraele Goya, Gilson Saleshando, Robert Masitara, Odirile Motlhale, and Wynter Mmolotsi.