THE DA has written to Public Protector Thuli Madonsela requesting an investigation into what it calls an abuse of public funds by chauffeur-driven MPLs.

This comes after the KwaZulu-Natal legislature heard that 22 of its MPLs were costing taxpayers R264000 a month by being driven to and from the provincial parliament by drivers who are paid R12000 a month.

In a statement, the DA's shadow minister of cooperative governance and traditional affairs John Steenhuisen yesterday said the party had also acquired confidential documents which show that ANC MPLs in Limpopo are being chauffeured in luxury Chrysler Voyagers for personal and party-political purposes.

"The documents detail how the ANC chief whip, Jan Tsiane, was able to get the legislature to bankroll trips for MPLs to ANC centenary celebrations and Women's League events. A reliable source also informs us that, in one instance, an ANC MPL was driven to Pretoria for a personal medical appointment," he said.

The DA wants Madonsela to establish if any laws were contravened, if MPLs in other provinces are being driven around and to investigate each MPL.