Travelgate was one of the first major political corruption scandals in post-apartheid South Africa. It implicated over 30 Members of Parliament (MPs) as accomplices and beneficiaries in a large-scale fraud scheme, under which Parliament unknowingly recompensed MPs and private travel agencies for millions of rands in fictitious travel expenses. The Sunday Times broke the story in July 2004.[1]

The fraud itself revolved around travel vouchers which MPs were granted for covering work-related air travel expenses. These took the form of travel warrants which MPs could use to pay travel agencies for air tickets; travel agents were able to claim payment from Parliament against the warrants.[2] MPs and travel agents colluded to fill out fraudulent travel warrants and bill Parliament for air tickets that were never purchased (or that had been purchased but cancelled and refunded). The money paid by Parliament was kept by the agencies, who transferred some of it to MPs in the form of cash or bookings for car hire or luxury hotel accommodation. In the latter case, MPs were able to duplicate future expense claims to Parliament, for example by claiming mileage expenses on their vehicles while in fact using hired vehicles paid for by the travel agency.[3]

The Scorpions, an elite unit of the National Prosecuting Authority, initiated a large-scale investigation which involved questioning 135 MPs, and PricewaterhouseCoopers was contracted to assist with forensic accounting.[1] The first criminal charges were laid against MPs in January 2005.[1] By 2010, 31 MPs, and several travel agents, had pled guilty to charges against them; none of the cases went to trial.[4][5] Several resigned.[6]

List of criminal convictions

The following is a partial list of the MPs who pled guilty of fraud or theft charges in connection with Travelgate. They were sentenced to fines and suspended prison sentences. The majority of the convicted MPs were from the governing African National Congress (ANC), but a handful belonged to the opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) and New National Party (NNP).[7]

Member of Parliament Party Conviction Conviction date Fine in rands Citation
Ruth Bhengu ANC Fraud 2005/04 R45,000 [8]
Mnyamezeli Booi ANC Theft 2009/09 R50,000 [9]
Bathabile Dlamini ANC Fraud 2006/10 R120,000 [10]
Beauty Dlulane ANC Fraud 2006/10 R120,000 [10]
Ndleleni Duma ANC Theft 2006/10 R30,000 [10]
Rhoda Joemat ANC Fraud 2005/03 R80,000 [11]
Bruce Kannemeyer ANC Theft 2006/10 R40,000 [10]
Tsietsi Louw ANC Theft 2006/10 R60,000 [10]
Mavis Magazi ANC Fraud 2005/03 R60,000 [11]
Douglas Maimane ANC Theft 2006/10 R25,000 [12]
Sophie Maine ANC Fraud 2006/10 R100,000 [10]
Nono Maloyi ANC Fraud 2006/10 R60,000 [10]
Pamela Mnandi ANC Fraud 2005/03 R40,000 [11]
Garth Mngomezulu ANC Fraud 2006/10 R100,000 [10]
Lewele Modisenyane ANC Theft 2006/10 R25,000 [10]
Angie Molebatsi ANC Theft 2006/10 R25,000 [12]
Craig Morkel DA Fraud 2006/12 R25,000 [13]
Mildred Mpaka ANC Fraud 2005/03 R80,000 [11]
John Ncinane ANC Fraud 2005/04 R80,000 [8]
Elizabeth Ngaleka ANC Theft 2006/12 R20,000 [13]
Robert Nogumla ANC Fraud 2006/10 R90,000 [10]
Danny Oliphant ANC Fraud 2006/12 R30,000 [13]
Randy Pieterse ANC Theft 2006/10 R25,000 [10]
Charles Redcliffe DA Fraud 2006/07 R70,000 [14]
Rodney Rhoda NNP Fraud 2005/04 R30,000 [15]
Alice Sigcawu ANC Theft 2006/10 R50,000 [10]
Bangilizwe Solo ANC Fraud 2006/10 R100,000 [10]
Jabu Sosibo ANC Fraud 2006/12 R100,000 [13]
Tseko Taabe ANC Fraud 2005/03 R40,000 [11]
Barbara Thomson ANC Fraud 2006/10 R90,000 [10]

References

  1. ^ a b c Meldrum, Andrew (2005-01-24). "40 accused in South African MPs' fraud case". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-04-01.
  2. ^ "Beukes to blow the lid off 'travelgate' scam". IOL. 7 December 2004. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
  3. ^ "Travelgate: Evidence of huge new fraud". The Mail & Guardian. 2006-01-27. Retrieved 2023-04-01.
  4. ^ "Last travelgate accused pleads guilty". Sunday Times. 21 September 2010. Retrieved 2023-04-01.
  5. ^ "'Travelgate' saga finally ends". IOL. 22 September 2010. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
  6. ^ Pressly, Donwald (23 June 2005). "'Travelgate' MPs resign". News24. Retrieved 2023-04-01.
  7. ^ "Travelgate accused appear in court again". The Mail & Guardian. 2005-09-12. Retrieved 2023-04-01.
  8. ^ a b "Travelgate: 2 MPs plead guilty". News24. 4 April 2005. Retrieved 2023-04-01.
  9. ^ "Travelgate MP Booi pleads guilty to theft". The Mail & Guardian. 2009-09-28. Retrieved 2023-04-01.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "Travelgate: 14 plead guilty". The Mail & Guardian. 2006-10-16. Retrieved 2021-12-13.
  11. ^ a b c d e "First MPs convicted of Travelgate fraud". The Mail & Guardian. 2005-03-18. Retrieved 2023-04-01.
  12. ^ a b "Travelgate: 'Some less equal than others'". The Mail & Guardian. 2006-10-17. Retrieved 2023-04-01.
  13. ^ a b c d "Two more MPs fined in Travelgate scam". The Mail & Guardian. 2006-12-16. Retrieved 2023-04-01.
  14. ^ "Travelgate: R70 000 fine imposed". The Mail & Guardian. 2006-07-27. Retrieved 2023-05-13.
  15. ^ Jordaan, Willem (1 April 2005). "Travel scam: NNP man sentenced". News24. Retrieved 2023-05-15.
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