Hon House Chair, the ACDP supports the motion on the order paper and it is crucial that Parliament, which manages and appropriates public finances, sets itself a much higher standard. We exercise oversight and the question in Latin is quis custodiet ipsos custodes? Who will guard the guards? We set in a service standard; we must apply that same standard as well. It is crucial that we need to ensure that the taxpayer's funds are dealt with in a transparent, responsible and accountable fashion.
Mainly, the other speakers have already alluded to the fact that the disciplinary processes took a long time. We in the ACDP agree. It is a shame that this process goes back to 2016 and that the legal process took almost two years to conclude. It is an issue which is across the whole public sector. It is something that we experience, the delays where public officials are suspended on full pay. We are now sitting the situation here that the contract has almost come to a conclusion.
We share the sentiments and the congratulations and the commendations to the Speaker and the Chairperson of the
NCOP for not aligning this just to run the 10 weeks that are left of the contract but to send a very strong message that the disciplinary action has been concluded, and that this Parliament will support the findings of the disciplinary hearing.
Lastly, we would also support the study of the evidence and the findings of the disciplinary action to see whether there is evidence that could be the basis for criminal action and civil action to recover those funds that have been taken. We believe that not only the disciplinary action, but further action should be taken to recover the ill gotten gains. The ACDP will support this motion. I thank you.
IsiXhosa: