Questions remain over Mandela funeral scandal
THE official in the middle of the Nelson Mandela funeral scandal has been rewarded with another five-year contract as head of the Eastern Cape treasury department.
Premier Phumulo Masualle has reappointed Marion Mbina-Mthembu for another term.
While her appointment was welcomed by both the provincial ANC and DA, her previous tenure as department head was not without controversy.
The Daily Dispatch reported earlier this month that Mbina-Mthembu was to be questioned by the Hawks in connection with the spending of state funds for the funeral of former president Mandela.
It was Mbina-Mthembu who authorised the payment of R250000 into Masualle’s personal account while he was finance MEC.
She also revealed at a finance portfolio committee that the Eastern Cape government had spent almost R9-million on Mandela’s provincial memorial service in Port Elizabeth – but did not know what exactly the money was spent on.
Mbina-Mthembu had said the reason for this was because there had been no documents detailing any of the expenditure from the December service.
She said she had agreed to authorise the money without following proper procurement processes because she had trusted the MEC responsible for organising the service.
In the same meeting she also revealed that she had never undergone a security screening since taking up the position in August 2011.
Eastern Cape treasury MEC Sakhumzi Somyo this week revealed that his department had appointed a private firm to probe the department’s involvement in the Mandela funeral scandal.
Pretoria-based George Fivaz Forensic and Risk Investigators was tasked with the job.
Somyo wants to know if a mandate from a provincial executive council resolution to assist in the funeral was carried out by the province.
Investigators are expected to question Mbina-Mthembu, who was tasked to oversee and monitor the payments of funds, on the matter.
In Mbina-Mthembu’s three years as head of department (HoD), provincial treasury has managed to obtain two clean audit opinions.
She has also opened a case with the Hawks relating to a multimillion-rand tender to supply thousands of Eastern Cape schools with furniture and appointed auditing firm SizweNtsalubaGobodo to conduct a forensic audit into the contract.
Her appointment comes after Masualle’s office advertised in May for HoDs in treasury; social development; transport; human settlements; sport, recreation, arts and culture; and safety and liaison.
The Office of the Premier also advertised for a deputy director-general in institutional development and organisational support.
Confirming Mbina-Mthembu’s appointment, treasury spokeswoman Nosisa Sogayise said: “The department welcomes the re-appointment of Ms Marion Mbina-Mthembu as the head of department of treasury as appointed by the Office of the Premier.
“We are also confident that she will continue with the sterling job that she started in 2011 when she started working in the department.
“We call on everyone to provide her with the necessary support.”
The premier’s office, however, could not say whether the other five vacancies had been filled. No responses to questions sent yesterday morning were received at the time of going to print. — mphumziz@dispatch.co.za
Treasury head reappointed amid fund claims
THE official in the middle of the Nelson Mandela funeral scandal has been rewarded with another five-year contract as head of the Eastern Cape treasury department.
Premier Phumulo Masualle has reappointed Marion Mbina-Mthembu for another term.
While her appointment was welcomed by both the provincial ANC and DA, her previous tenure as department head was not without controversy.
The Daily Dispatch reported earlier this month that Mbina-Mthembu was to be questioned by the Hawks in connection with the spending of state funds for the funeral of former president Mandela.
It was Mbina-Mthembu who authorised the payment of R250000 into Masualle’s personal account while he was finance MEC.
She also revealed at a finance portfolio committee that the Eastern Cape government had spent almost R9-million on Mandela’s provincial memorial service in Port Elizabeth – but did not know what exactly the money was spent on.
Mbina-Mthembu had said the reason for this was because there had been no documents detailing any of the expenditure from the December service.
She said she had agreed to authorise the money without following proper procurement processes because she had trusted the MEC responsible for organising the service.
In the same meeting she also revealed that she had never undergone a security screening since taking up the position in August 2011.
Eastern Cape treasury MEC Sakhumzi Somyo this week revealed that his department had appointed a private firm to probe the department’s involvement in the Mandela funeral scandal.
Pretoria-based George Fivaz Forensic and Risk Investigators was tasked with the job.
Somyo wants to know if a mandate from a provincial executive council resolution to assist in the funeral was carried out by the province.
Investigators are expected to question Mbina-Mthembu, who was tasked to oversee and monitor the payments of funds, on the matter.
In Mbina-Mthembu’s three years as head of department (HoD), provincial treasury has managed to obtain two clean audit opinions.
She has also opened a case with the Hawks relating to a multimillion-rand tender to supply thousands of Eastern Cape schools with furniture and appointed auditing firm SizweNtsalubaGobodo to conduct a forensic audit into the contract.
Her appointment comes after Masualle’s office advertised in May for HoDs in treasury; social development; transport; human settlements; sport, recreation, arts and culture; and safety and liaison.
The Office of the Premier also advertised for a deputy director-general in institutional development and organisational support.
Confirming Mbina-Mthembu’s appointment, treasury spokeswoman Nosisa Sogayise said: “The department welcomes the re-appointment of Ms Marion Mbina-Mthembu as the head of department of treasury as appointed by the Office of the Premier.
“We are also confident that she will continue with the sterling job that she started in 2011 when she started working in the department.
“We call on everyone to provide her with the necessary support.”
The premier’s office, however, could not say whether the other five vacancies had been filled. No responses to questions sent yesterday morning were received at the time of going to print. — mphumziz@dispatch.co.za
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