A senior public works official has been fired for gross dishonesty and conflict of interest in awarding a R7-million tender to a company of which he was previously a director.
The national department of public works official, who is based in Mthatha, could not be reached for comment at time of writing yesterday.
National public works spokesman Thami Mchunu yesterday confirmed the official was sacked last week after being found guilty of participating in the tender process.
Mchunu said the man was also dismissed for accepting a R26 450 “bribe” from the construction company.
It is alleged the manager had failed to declare the income to the department and was found guilty of misrepresentation by not disclosing he had been a director of the company from February 21 2008 to June 21 2010.
“He did not declare this relationship and participated in the bid evaluation committee that evaluated and recommended the awarding of a tender to this construction company,” Mchunu explained.
According to Mchunu, the official was initially suspended and later transferred to another unit where he was assigned different duties “because he could not be trusted”.
“During the internal hearing, he denied that he had interacted with the company when it submitted the bid, Mchunu added.
“He also said the sum of R26450 was compensation after the company had damaged a bakkie while he was doing some work for it.
“He said the company directors resolved to compensate him because he had borrowed the vehicle from another person.”
Mchunu added that the dismissal took place against a backdrop of 319 allegations reported against officials from the national public works department since 2010.
A total of 201 cases had been finalised, resulting in disciplinary action in 183 of those. Eight senior officials have also been dismissed for misconduct, said Mchunu.
The Daily Dispatch last month reported that 12 officials in the Mthatha national public works regional office had been charged for financial misconduct for payments of over R5-million to service providers for which no evidence was found to confirm delivery of goods or services. — asandan@dispatch.co.za
Department fires official after R7m tender saga
The national department of public works official, who is based in Mthatha, could not be reached for comment at time of writing yesterday.
National public works spokesman Thami Mchunu yesterday confirmed the official was sacked last week after being found guilty of participating in the tender process.
Mchunu said the man was also dismissed for accepting a R26 450 “bribe” from the construction company.
It is alleged the manager had failed to declare the income to the department and was found guilty of misrepresentation by not disclosing he had been a director of the company from February 21 2008 to June 21 2010.
“He did not declare this relationship and participated in the bid evaluation committee that evaluated and recommended the awarding of a tender to this construction company,” Mchunu explained.
According to Mchunu, the official was initially suspended and later transferred to another unit where he was assigned different duties “because he could not be trusted”.
“During the internal hearing, he denied that he had interacted with the company when it submitted the bid, Mchunu added.
“He also said the sum of R26450 was compensation after the company had damaged a bakkie while he was doing some work for it.
“He said the company directors resolved to compensate him because he had borrowed the vehicle from another person.”
Mchunu added that the dismissal took place against a backdrop of 319 allegations reported against officials from the national public works department since 2010.
A total of 201 cases had been finalised, resulting in disciplinary action in 183 of those. Eight senior officials have also been dismissed for misconduct, said Mchunu.
The Daily Dispatch last month reported that 12 officials in the Mthatha national public works regional office had been charged for financial misconduct for payments of over R5-million to service providers for which no evidence was found to confirm delivery of goods or services. — 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