S Africa lawmakers face trial in graft case

CAPE TOWN, May 29 (Reuters) South African prosecutors will press charges against 23 sitting and former legislators in a major graft case that has embarassed the post-apartheid government, officials said today.

The lawmakers, mostly from the ruling African National Congress (ANC), are accused of abusing their travel privileges in a scandal dubbed ''Travelgate''.

Prosecutors say doctored travel vouchers allowed them to book into luxury hotels, hire flashy cars or dine at lavish restaurants at taxpayers' expense.

Prosecution of the case is seen as a step toward rooting out corruption in Africa's biggest economy and comes as prosecutors ready the high-profile graft trial of former Deputy President Jacob Zuma.

''We are reasonably satisfied that we will get a conviction ... we have a strong case,'' Vusi Pikoli, head of the National Prosecution Authority, told reporters after meeting top officials in parliament.

The MPs and seven travel agents will appear in court on July 31, he said.

Another eight lawmakers -- all ANC -- have pleaded guilty to abusing their travel vouchers. They received fines and suspended sentences and were forced to resign from parliament.

National Assembly Speaker Baleka Mbete said it was up to the relevant political parties to decide whether the implicated legislators should vacate their seats pending the trial.

Pikoli did not release names of the members facing charges, adding that more names could be added to the list.

''We are satisfied that these 30 people have got a case to answer in court based on the available evidence. What will come out in the court is something else,'' he said.

The Travelgate scandal followed a number of embarassing graft cases to hit the ANC after it led South Africa from apartheid to democracy in 1994, including the resignation of former ANC chief whip Tony Yengeni in 2003 after he was given a four year jail term sentence for graft.

The party faced fresh turmoil last year when President Thabo Mbeki fired his deputy Zuma after the popular politician was implicated in the fraud and corruption trial of his former financial adviser.

Zuma, who remains hugely popular within the ANC and was once seen as a possible successor to Mbeki, denies the charges. His trial is scheduled to start in July.

REUTERS CH HS2118