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Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge was fired by President Thabo Mbeki
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August 07, 2007, 18:00
The Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa), SA Parliament's public finance watchdog, says it will ensure that deputy health minister, Nosizwe Madlala-Routledge, repays the public funds she used for an unauthorised trip to Spain. Madlala-Routledge travelled to Spain without President Thabo Mbeki's approval, which was needed as set out in the ministerial handbook.
Scopa says this is clearly a case of irregular expenditure, which is an offence in terms of laws governing public money, and plans to take steps against Madlala-Routledge.
Scopa chairperson Themba Godi says, "The case as it stands is a matter of public interest and it involves public money, obviously it does warrant the attention of Scopa. Irregular expenditure is an offence in terms of the law, so if that has been committed, irrespective of who committed it, we would expect the law to be applied."
Madlala-Routledge took a "consultant" in her office, along with her son on a trip to Spain, allegedly without obtaining presidential approval, at a cost of R160 000 to the taxpayer. The three flew business class, stayed at a luxury hotel and were allocated generous spending money while abroad. An anonymous whistleblower wrote a letter to Mbeki to draw his attention to the unauthorised Madrid trip.
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