Trouble seems to follow social development MEC Mosetsanagape Mokomele-Mothibi after she apparently failed to meet her own deadline to return R174000 of state money used on a private trip.

Mokomele-Mothibi was arraigned before the provincial select committee on public accounts (Scopa) on February 19, where she conceded to have used the money and apologised.

She set out to return the money over a seven working days period. This lapsed on Thursday. In a media statement the MEC refuted wrong-doing.

Mokomele-Mothibi is quoted saying: “Nothing could be further from the truth as I only accepted political responsibility for the actions of my department’s officials – that of including themselves in my travel bookings without my knowledge and approval.”

She added: “I am committed to good governance, clean administration and accountability. Hence, when confronted with the allegations, I accepted responsibility as the head of the department and apologised. While I ensured implicated officials reimbursed the state, I (also) instructed that disciplinary action be taken against all of them.”

She also reversed her submission before Scopa that her friend, Mavis Kgosing, had benefited from trip.

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