By Obakeng Maje

Mahikeng-North West social development MEC Mosetsanagape Mokomele-Mothibi vows that she won’t pay even a cent on alleged misappropriate of funds she found herself in.

MEC Mokomele-Mothibi admitted using R174 000 of taxpayers’ money to attend the 2012 ANC elective conference in Mangaung, according to a report.

Mokomele-Mothibi admitted in a statement from the provincial legislature that she used the money to pay for her friend and officials to go to the conference and undertook to pay the money within a week, Business Day newspaper reported.

She and senior managers from her department appeared before the standing committee on provincial accounts on Tuesday, after it was claimed she attended the conference using taxpayers’ money.

Yesterday Mothibi changed her tune and said she won’t pay the money as the ministerial booklet allowed her to the benefit.

The committee decided to investigate Mokomele’s claim whether she was on an official trip or private.

“I will not pay back the money as I am entittled to those benefits. I do not know why only me being brought forward before the committe while there are other MECs who did the same, but they are not questioned” said furious Mokomele-Mothibi.

According to Chauke, the MECs are only covered if they on an official trip.

According to reports, a friend used a room meant for the department’s chief financial officer, who was unable to attend due to illness.

Committee chairman Hlomane Chauke said her admission had been welcomed, but that the committee would reconvene to make further recommendations to the legislature.

Democratic Alliance leader in the North West Chris Hattingh said the case should be referred to the police’s commercial crimes branch.

He said the DA would continue to demand full disclosure of all provincial government spending at the ANC conference, as Mokomele-Mothibi’s matter was unlikely to be an isolated incident.

According to other reports, other senior managers who were involved already paid their debts.

Additional reports http://www.timelive.co.za

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