CAPE TOWN — The appointment of Parliament Secretary Xolile George and the associated 70% salary increase are fully above board, according to Cameron Dugmore, acting co-chairperson of the Joint Standing Committee on the Financial Management of Parliament. This defense comes as the Democratic Alliance takes Parliament to the Western Cape High Court, arguing the appointment process was unlawful and seeking to have the remuneration package set aside.
The Democratic Alliance is requesting the court to declare the appointment unlawful and invalid, while asking for the declaration of invalidity to be suspended for a limited period. This suspension would ostensibly grant Parliament the opportunity to appoint a new secretary through a lawful process. During this interim period, the DA argues that George should be remunerated at the originally advertised rate of 2.6 million rand. Alternatively, if the court does not set aside the appointment, the DA is requesting a review of George’s salary down to the advertised 2.6 million rand figure. Central to the DA’s claim is the assertion that the Speaker and the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) chairperson misled Members of Parliament into approving the appointment based on a lower salary benchmark.
Addressing these claims, Dugmore clarified that the issue is a legacy matter originating in the previous parliament, which was thoroughly reviewed by the seventh parliament’s joint standing committee on the 4th of March. He explained that while the post was initially advertised at a specific level, there was always a clear understanding that a parallel job evaluation exercise would be conducted. The Secretary to Parliament is a key official, equivalent to a Director-General, with responsibilities spanning both the National Assembly and the NCOP, and the role had not previously undergone a formal job evaluation.
Dugmore emphasized that the Auditor General has audited the entire process and found no irregularities. A formal letter detailing these findings was made accessible to the DA and all other political parties. Based on this evidence, the committee officially accepted the Auditor General’s validation and closed the matter.
Regarding the salary adjustment from 2.6 million rand to 4.4 million rand, Dugmore stressed that a formal benchmarking exercise justified the increase. This exercise was conducted by the private firm 21st Century Pay Solutions and subsequently validated by SNG Grant Thornton. Dugmore confirmed that the full report is available in the committee’s documentation and dismissed conspiracy theories regarding the firm’s selection, noting that the company has a history of conducting work for Parliament.
Dugmore did not hold back in his criticism of the Democratic Alliance’s motivations, labeling the legal challenge as hypocritical and opportunistic. He pointed to the City of Cape Town, where a DA-appointed municipal manager reportedly earns 4.7 million rand, questioning why the party selectively ignores the Auditor General’s findings when they do not align with their political narrative.
Furthermore, Dugmore suggested that a subtle form of racism is emerging in the DA’s approach, arguing that the party is actively attempting to undermine a black Secretary to Parliament through serious personal attacks. He drew parallels to past controversies, referencing former DA leader Tony Leon and historical attempts to capture the Department of Communications, to illustrate a pattern of behavior.
Dugmore also criticized what he described as the DA’s “selective justice,” citing the party’s recent moves to question a high court decision regarding a pause on the president’s impeachment process, alongside ongoing controversies over land sales in Cape Town.
While firmly stating that he does not believe the DA has a viable case given the Auditor General’s findings and the documented benchmarking evidence, Dugmore affirmed his committee’s respect for the separation of powers. He acknowledged that the courts will ultimately review the matter and make a final determination, a democratic process his committee fully accepts.
