The legislature paid travel stipends to two MPLs who never left South Africa, and more travel and subsistence claims to 32 legislature staffers who were not entitled to them.

Mwale claimed the legislature upheld the highest standards of ethics and denied any politically motivated interference.

The Gauteng legislature has denied that ANC figures, including former speaker Ntombi Mekgwe, covered up a scandal that saw nearly R500 000 in travel and subsistence claims improperly paid to staffers during the Covid-19 pandemic.

In a statement released on Monday morning, acting legislature speaker Linda Mwale said any notion of impropriety was misplaced and that the "esteemed institution" was unwavering in its commitment to "good governance and ethical leadership".

Mwale said: "The Gauteng legislature is a well-respected and credible institution which plays a critical role in the governance of this province. As a legislative body responsible for overseeing government departments in Gauteng, the [legislature] remains fully committed to its core mandate of ensuring that public funds are used effectively, efficiently and transparently."

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