The annual package of Parliament's top administrator, Xolile George, went up from an advertised R2.6-million to a whopping R4.4-million in less than a year - all because he was recruited through a headhunting process.

Questions around George's salary have dominated corridor talks based on an assumption that he was appointed on the advertised package of R2.6-million.

But Parliament’s spokesperson Moloto Mathopo has clarified that George was recruited through a different process - not the same one where the package of between R2.4 and R2.6-million was on offer.

The DA has since laid a complaint against National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula for misleading the House.

In response to News24's question, Mothapo said there was no salary discrepancy in terms of the remuneration offered to the secretary.

"Mr George was recruited through a different process, i.e. headhunting, than that of the advertised position. These two processes must not be conflated as they are fundamentally different. A political party in Parliament has lodged a complaint with the Powers and Privileges Committee, alleging that the presiding officers misled Parliament. The presiding officers are looking forward to clarifying this matter at that forum and dispelling such claims that they acted wrongly in any way," he said.

News24 has seen documents that confirm George's salary was increased to R4.4-million after a review process.

There were also allegations that George received accommodation, VIP security and other undue benefits.

But Mothapo denied this.

"There are, frankly, no so-called enhancements or perks in the remuneration of the secretary to Parliament, other than a salary and employee benefits that are offered to all employees of Parliament," he said.

Mothapo added that security for the leadership of Parliament was not determined by the institution but by the police.

He said:

Therefore, we are not in a position to comment on their behalf. It is important to emphasise that the secretary to Parliament does not receive any perks of any kind.

Meanwhile, the Democratic Alliance's (DA's) complaint against Mapisa-Nqakula will be considered by the Powers and Privileges Committee.

In a letter to Mapisa-Nqakula's deputy, Lechesa Tsenoli, DA chief whip Siviwe Gwarube said Mapisa-Nqakula improperly influenced the chief whips and MPs to endorse George's appointment.

According to Gwarube, this was done by fraudulently disclosing a much lower remuneration package.

"By dishonestly advertising the remuneration package of the secretary to Parliament at a lower salary band, knowing well that it was always going to be increased post the fact to secure Mr George's appointment, excluded many other credible and arguably more capable candidates from applying for the vacancy.

"The speaker's repeated reassurances to the chief whips that Mr George would earn no more than the highest notch of R2.6 million for the advertised salary package for the position arguably impeded the exercise by MPs - and ultimately the National Assembly and National Council of Provinces (NCOP) - of their oversight function of ensuring that a suitable candidate is appointed as the Secretary to Parliament, which constitutes contempt of Parliament in terms of sections 7(a) and (b) of the Act," Gwarube said.

In May 2022, Mapisa-Nqakula refused to discuss George's remuneration in an open forum like the National Assembly Programming Committee (NAPC).

George's salary was a cause for much speculation, as it would appear that he would take a significant pay cut if he left his current post as CEO of the South African Local Government Association (Salga) for Parliament.

In June 2022, News24 reported that MPs were apparently in the dark about Parliament's agreement with George, who took a massive pay cut from the R5.8-million he earned at Salga to about R2.5 million at Parliament.

The Powers and Privileges Committee is expected to look at the matter early next year.