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Democratic Alliance press statement by
Andrew Louw MPL
DA Northern Cape Provincial Leader
Payment of Trifecta legal fees questionable
13 June 2016
Release: immediate
The DA is suspicious that the Office of the Premier has taken eight months to furnish us with a selective response on the payment of legal fees by the state in the notorious Trifecta court case.
The DA recently received a written response from the Office of the Premier, following an oral question that I posed to Premier Sylvia Lucas during a House Sitting in September last year.
At the time, I asked the Premier to indicate which government departments funded the legal fees for the former MEC of Economic Development and Finance, John Block, and MEC of COGHSTA, Alvin Botes, and also to inform us of what the total bill amounted to. This came after the Premier confirmed that legal fees were in fact paid by the Northern Cape Department of Social Development for the late Yolande Botha, who was embroiled in the same case but passed away before the case was finalized. I also asked the Premier whether any expenditure on legal fees would be recuperated following Block’s conviction.
The Office of the Premier has confirmed that an amount of R3 063 272,97 was paid for Botha’s legal fees according to Treasury Regulations, which “afford State Cover to employees”. They further noted that had she been found guilty, this money would have been recovered from her.
The Office of the Premier has, however, remained mum on whether legal fees were paid for Block and Botes. And more importantly, whether legal fees were ever recovered from Block, who was found guilty on charges of fraud, corruption and money laundering?
Given this ongoing lack of transparency, it cannot be ruled out that the state did in fact cover the legal costs of Block and Botes and that fees, specifically in the case of Block, have in fact not been recuperated.
The DA is of the firm view that the state should not be liable for the enormous legal costs associated with corruption charges.
While it is common practice in countries around the world to pay legal costs when charges relate to the carrying out of official duties, it is certainly not so when, as in this case, the charges relate to possible criminal misconduct and are wholly unrelated to the work of the state.
If the state has taken it upon itself to foot the Trifecta legal bill, they are implying that it is a normal part of the duties of MEC’s and senior officials to solicit bribes. They are also saying it is ok to spend taxpayers’ money on corruption cases instead of service delivery. This cannot be tolerated and this is why citizens need to use the 3 August to vote for change.
Media Enquiries:
Andrew Louw
DA Northern Cape Provincial Leader
082 383 6914
Shelley De Witt
Researcher
082 847 1387
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