Parliament Was Misled

Statement by George Michalakis MP – DA Parliamentary Leader:

The Democratic Alliance will today file court papers in the Western Cape High Court to have the appointment and salary of Mr Xolile George, Secretary to Parliament, set aside. Mr George is known for having received a salary increase of 70% – from R2,6 million to R4,4 million within months of starting his work at Parliament.

The crux of the DA’s case is that the then Speaker, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, and Chairperson of the NCOP, Amos Masondo, misled Parliament when they induced them to endorse Mr George’s appointment on the basis of a much lower salary package.

Furthermore, at the time of his appointment, the salary range of Secretary to Parliament was capped at R2,6 million following a review process of Parliament’s unaffordable wage bill. Mr George was also not one of the 81 candidates who had applied, or the 9 that were shortlisted, for the position during the second round of advertising at that remuneration rate.

Despite then having been appointed, Mr George was left without an employment contract between assuming office in June 2022 and September 2022. In January 2023, the Speaker and Chairperson instructed that Mr George’s salary be increased to R4,428,315, with back pay to June 2022.

The DA will now approach the High Court to have Mr George’s appointment and salary increase be declared unlawful, invalid, and set aside. The DA believes that such an order would be a major step in ensuring that Parliament is run in a way that is accountable and transparent.