Members of MKP’s parliamentary caucus have called on its president, Jacob Zuma, to institute a forensic investigation into R70m allegedly siphoned from the party.

The Mail & Guardian says it understands that the MKP parliamentary caucus held a meeting recently and resolved to write to Zuma and second deputy president Tony Yengeni about money allegedly looted from its coffers since it joined Parliament last year.

According to sources, Parliament approved funding for the party to establish constituency offices for its 58 MPs and five members of the NCOP.

A senior party member said that Parliament allocates R6.3m to the party monthly for its constituency offices.

The source said the money was being siphoned through paying exorbitant salaries and costs such as accommodation and security, and through travel agencies.

Another source said that MPs felt the money had gone missing, prompting a call for a forensic audit.

The sources added that this was taxpayers’ money and people had the right to demand accountability. It is understood that MKP chief of staff, Vanessa Carlvet, was suspended over the missing funds.

Calvert said she was not aware of missing money, saying she was not a signatory, did not deal with payments, and did not have access to the party’s banking details or accounts.

Calvert said she was never given reasons for her suspension. Former MKP secretary general Floyd Shivambu was the first to flag the looting of MKP funds.

In June, after he was axed as MKP secretary-general, Shivambu said R7m was being looted from the party’s coffers each month, calling the party’s finances a mess.

Full Mail & Guardian report