Deputy Sport Minister Peace Mabe has called for an investigation into the use of the South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport’s (SAIDS) credit card after MPs uncovered dozens of expenses unrelated to anti-doping.
“We are embarrassed about the misuse of the credit card on expenses not related to anti-doping, and we think that that necessitates an investigation,” Mabe said.
She was speaking at the end of a marathon sitting of Parliament’s portfolio committee on sport, arts and culture on Tuesday evening.
Earlier that day, MPs went through SAIDS credit card statements showing payments for Uber Eats orders, Uber rides, a Kindle subscription, florists and baby shower gifts.
Close to 100 transactions were labelled as personal expenses.
SAIDS CEO Khalid Galant admitted that he approved every transaction on the card.
Board chairperson Raymond Hack said he did not know whether SAIDS had a credit card policy.
Mabe compared SAIDS to Athletics South Africa, which has faced similar questions over spending.
“We had to deal with Athletics South Africa on the same matters, and we feel that they did not do anything different,” she said.
She also questioned how SAIDS had obtained clean audits for three consecutive years.
“We all wonder how come auditors were not able to zoom into what the portfolio was able to raise,” Mabe said.
During the sitting, outgoing audit and risk committee chairperson Advocate Dave Mitchell admitted that his committee had never seen a credit card statement.
Mabe said the department would also review how new board members are brought into public entities.
“It is clear that the department needs to review the on-boarding process of new board members, to ensure that entities are led by board members with the necessary specialised skills relevant to the entities,” she said.
During the sitting, Hack told MPs he had never looked at SAIDS’s internal policies.
He later accepted responsibility.
“Ultimately, it is my responsibility as the chair for what is put out to the public and what is put out to the portfolio committee. I accept that responsibility. And if there are any shortfalls, I will ensure that those shortfalls are brought up to date,” Hack said.
Committee chairperson Joe McGluwa told Hack that accepting responsibility was not enough.
“One has not only to accept accountability, but you must also accept the consequences,” McGluwa said.
SAIDS had promised to send the committee its credit card policy during the morning session.
By 4.30pm, it had still not sent the document, McGluwa said.
“This morning we met with SAIDS. We requested SAIDS to give us certain information while they were sitting in the office. It’s half past four now. They haven’t sent us anything,” he said.
Later that evening, McGluwa said SAIDS had sent the committee its credit card expenditure.
Mabe said the controversy was particularly serious because of SAIDS’s role in protecting clean athletes.
“Anti-doping is not simply about catching those who break the rules. It is more about protecting those who play by them,” she said.
SAIDS and the department have been sent questions.