THE Bhisho government is still in the dark on whether the Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC) chief executive Sitembele Mase was suspended over his involvement in the Nelson Mandela funeral spending saga or not.
Mase was suspended by the ECDC board in March amid allegations of unauthorised use of funds channelled from the institution and allegedly used for Mandela’s funeral in December last year.
The ECDC was chosen by provincial government as a paymaster entity for Mandela’s funeral programmes.
Reggie Naidoo has since been appointed to act in Mase’s place.
In a statement issued by the board at time, it was stated “the suspension is a neutral act intended to minimise disruption to the business and protect interests of employee and employer while an independent investigation is completed”.
Quizzed yesterday on whether Mase’s suspension was related to Mandela funeral spending or not, provincial planning and treasury MEC Sakhumzi Somyo could not provide the portfolio committee of finance a straight answer.
The committee sat to scrutinise a consolidated report from Somyo’s department over provincial government spending during that period.
The report shows the province, through the ECDC, paid more than R22-million for “goods and services” while more than R25.9-million was utilised for infrastructure related projects in OR Tambo District and KSD municipality in the build-up to Mandela’s state funeral.
The money allegedly came from a R330-million infrastructure grant the provincial treasury had channelled to ECDC for projects. The funds were meant for providing running water, electricity, sanitation, ablution facilities and refurbishing hospitals in the province.
This newspaper reported a large amount of that money was instead spent on takeaways and T-shirts, with R5-million paid to a football boss in Cape Town to print shirts bearing Mandela’s face. Another R333360 was spent at McDonalds in Mthatha, and R441560 at KFC.
The spending contravened treasury regulations for Mandela events, which stipulated taxpayers’ money be used for transport and booking of venues only.
During yesterday’s portfolio committee, DA MPL Bobby Stevenson pushed to get answers from Somyo on whether Mase’s suspension was related to this saga or not.
After getting no joy from his initial query, he again asked the MEC to provide a yes or no answer.
ANC MPL Mxolisi Dimaza and Xola Pakati interjected and said Stevenson’s question was not relevant as it was not part of the agenda.
“The suspension of the CEO was done by the ECDC board and there is no one here who represents that board.” — asandan@dispatch.co.za
Bhisho in dark over suspension of CEO
Mase was suspended by the ECDC board in March amid allegations of unauthorised use of funds channelled from the institution and allegedly used for Mandela’s funeral in December last year.
The ECDC was chosen by provincial government as a paymaster entity for Mandela’s funeral programmes.
Reggie Naidoo has since been appointed to act in Mase’s place.
In a statement issued by the board at time, it was stated “the suspension is a neutral act intended to minimise disruption to the business and protect interests of employee and employer while an independent investigation is completed”.
Quizzed yesterday on whether Mase’s suspension was related to Mandela funeral spending or not, provincial planning and treasury MEC Sakhumzi Somyo could not provide the portfolio committee of finance a straight answer.
The committee sat to scrutinise a consolidated report from Somyo’s department over provincial government spending during that period.
The report shows the province, through the ECDC, paid more than R22-million for “goods and services” while more than R25.9-million was utilised for infrastructure related projects in OR Tambo District and KSD municipality in the build-up to Mandela’s state funeral.
The money allegedly came from a R330-million infrastructure grant the provincial treasury had channelled to ECDC for projects. The funds were meant for providing running water, electricity, sanitation, ablution facilities and refurbishing hospitals in the province.
This newspaper reported a large amount of that money was instead spent on takeaways and T-shirts, with R5-million paid to a football boss in Cape Town to print shirts bearing Mandela’s face. Another R333360 was spent at McDonalds in Mthatha, and R441560 at KFC.
The spending contravened treasury regulations for Mandela events, which stipulated taxpayers’ money be used for transport and booking of venues only.
During yesterday’s portfolio committee, DA MPL Bobby Stevenson pushed to get answers from Somyo on whether Mase’s suspension was related to this saga or not.
After getting no joy from his initial query, he again asked the MEC to provide a yes or no answer.
ANC MPL Mxolisi Dimaza and Xola Pakati interjected and said Stevenson’s question was not relevant as it was not part of the agenda.
“The suspension of the CEO was done by the ECDC board and there is no one here who represents that board.” — asandan@dispatch.co.za
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending Now
Latest Videos