Parliament, Sunday, 22 February 2026 - Parliament notes with serious concern yet another in a series of malicious, spurious and sustained media attacks by the Democratic Alliance (DA) directed at the Secretary to Parliament and now extended to the newly appointed Chief Financial Officer, Mr Nceba Mqoqi.
Despite the DA having previously taken some of its allegations through the proper oversight channel, the Joint Standing Committee on the Financial Management of Parliament, and despite those matters now subject of parliamentary scrutiny, the party continues to peddle insinuations in the public domain instead of respecting institutional processes. This pattern reflects a deliberate attempt to create suspicion through repetition rather than to pursue facts through lawful mechanisms.
The recent claims by the DA arise from allegations made by a former employee at the South African Local Government Association (SALGA). These allegations have already been comprehensively investigated by the Office of the Public Protector.
In its report dated 27 March 2019 titled:
“Closing report on an investigation into allegations of maladministration, improper conduct and financial misconduct on the part of certain senior managers in the employ of the South African Local Government Association”, the then Public Protector concluded: "All the allegations made by the complainant have no merit and could not be supported by the information and documentation obtained and analysed during the preliminary investigation."
The DA’s statement therefore rehashes allegations that have already been investigated and dismissed by a constitutionally mandated oversight institution.
The DA further misrepresents a 2020 Labour Court judgment, which plainly does not substantiate the insinuations being advanced. It is a fact that the Labour Court overturned the CCMA arbitration award and dismissed the former employee’s claim of constructive dismissal. The Court specifically found: “there was no evidence led as to why the said payments were unlawful.” The Court further observed that the employee had muddled issues and failed to properly utilise internal processes.
Accordingly, the judgment vindicated SALGA’s leadership and management and rejected the employee’s claims. The DA’s suggestion that the judgment substantiates wrongdoing is therefore incorrect and misleading.
Evidence before the Court showed that the former employee sought a financial settlement of R185 527.60 based on an incorrectly awarded arbitration outcome that was later set aside. When this was refused, allegations were pursued which were subsequently found by the Public Protector to be without merit.
It is therefore deeply concerning that Parliament’s recruitment process is now being questioned on the basis of allegations that have already been investigated, tested in court and dismissed.
Mr Nceba Mqoqi is an accomplished public finance professional with a distinguished and award-winning record in public sector financial management. While heading Finance and Corporate Services he led the institution to thirteen consecutive clean audit outcomes (sustained beyond his tenure), South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA) Excellence in Public Finance Management Award, SALGA Best Team Award, anf CEO’s Special Award for leadership and service. His stewardship strengthened governance systems and internal controls, demonstrating exemplary compliance and financial integrity.
Mr Mqoqi served in the City of Tshwane — appointed in 2024 under a DA-led coalition administration, where he worked until joining Parliament a week ago. During his tenure there he ensured revenue collection reached R40.6 billion against a R41.4 billion target (98% performance). He also achieved a record R4.2 billion monthly collection, ensured audit qualification areas were reduced from six to two and revenue qualification eliminated.
It is therefore difficult to reconcile how an official appointed under a DA-led municipal government, who improved audit outcomes and revenue performance, suddenly becomes suspect upon being appointed by Parliament through a lawful recruitment process. Public servants cannot be labelled competent when employed in one institution and corrupt when employed in another merely for political expediency.
The DA has submitted a PAIA request — a legitimate administrative tool to access information. However, a request for information is not evidence of wrongdoing, nor does it justify public insinuations before facts are established.
Parliament reiterates that appointments are conducted in accordance with prescribed recruitment procedures and governance frameworks. The claim that the Secretary to Parliament appointed Mr Mqoqi because he is his "loyal comrade" or “crony”, merely because they previously worked in the same organisation, is baseless conjecture. To recast a lawful professional relationship as impropriety or nepotism, without a shred of evidence of influence over the recruitment process, is simply an attempt to manufacture scandal where none exists.
The DA statement relies on allegations dismissed by the Public Protector, a Labour Court judgment that rejected the complainant’s case, and present speculation as fact and political insinuations as evidence.
To be clear: there exists no judicial finding, no Public Protector finding, no SIU finding, nor any audit outcome confirming that Mr Mqoqi or Mr George forced irregular payments, bullied employees, or authorised unlawful transactions at SALGA. The DA is relying solely on unproven allegations made by a former employee whose claims were dismissed by the Labour Court and found by the Public Protector to have no merit.
Parliament rejects the attempt to tarnish both the institution and a professional public servant through recycled and disproven allegations. Parliament remains committed to transparency and accountability through proper oversight mechanisms, not trial by media narrative.
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA
Enquiries: Moloto Mothapo, Parliament Spokesperson
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