UDM wants IEC office lease probed

The United Democratic Movement has asked the Public Protector to investigate the lease agreement of the Independent Electoral Commission's new Centurion offices.

UDM president Bantu Holomisa said the Public Protector was asked to look into the rental agreement between the IEC and the Riverside Office Park Trust, which started in March 2010.

It was alleged that the IEC paid a lump sum of R22,603,347 in March 2010 to the trust while the building was still being constructed.

The occupation of the building took place only in September 2010.

Holomisa said that since the first payment in March 2010, the building had cost the IEC more than R100 million.

The IEC rented its previous building in Pretoria for R750,758 per month.

Holomisa said it was worrying that there was no consistency in the monthly amounts paid for the new offices.

It was also alleged that the IEC was still paying for the old building in Pretoria, which was now stands empty.

The UDM said a forensic audit might assist to verify what happened with the more than R22 million lump sum paid as well as other "curious transactions".

It seems the IEC did not adhere to the regulations in the Public Finance Managment Act(PFMA) in the lease agreement with the trust, the party said.

IEC spokeswoman Kate Bapel said the commission was not aware that the Public Protector had been requested to look into any alleged irregularities with the lease agreement.