Four senior managers in the premier’s office, including a deputy director-general, were called in for questioning at the Bhisho police station yesterday in connection with tender irregularities.
Government spokesman Sonwabo Mbananga confirmed that the Office of the Premier (OTP) had instituted a forensic investigation into procurement irregularities and maladministration across several government departments, and that yesterday’s police action was “as a result of the ongoing investigation”.
However, Mbananga refused to divulge who was implicated in the findings, and what the findings entailed.
But the Daily Dispatch can reveal today that among those grilled yesterday was deputy director-general for monitoring and evaluation Dr Nangamso Nombekela, head of supply chain management (SCM) Elsie Smith, information and communication technology (ICT) manager Siyabulela Jindela, and senior SCM manager Andiswa Khetshese.
Mbananga said the scope given to the contractor mandated to do the investigations was that if required they might refer cases to police for criminal investigations.
“I can confirm that these are as a result of the ongoing investigations into irregularities. That is as far as I can go.
“I am in no position to name individuals or departments or sections concerned.
“That is for the police,” said Mbananga.
The questioning comes while police are still investigating an arson case after a fire gutted a file storage facility at the OTP.
Boxes full of documents – some of them apparently containing sensitive information related to a seven-year probe into procurement irregularities in various government departments and municipalities – went up in flames two months ago.
But Mbananga would not be drawn into commenting about the arson case, saying: “I am in no position to link the fire to the investigation.”
Surprisingly, the flames in premier Phumulo Masualle’s office occurred just hours after Gauteng MEC David Makhura’s office caught alight.
King William’s Town police spokeswoman Siphokazi Mawisa said police could not comment about yesterday’s questioning but could only say police were “continuing with an investigation of the arson case that occurred at the premier’s office”.
The Dispatch can also reveal that under the spotlight in yesterday’s questioning was a R1.9-million tender for installation of computer software at the OTP.
The Dispatch earlier reported that provincial director-general Marion Mbina-Mthembu had instituted charges against Jindela in connection with authorising full payment for the contract without the work being completed.
Jindela denies he authorised payment for an incomplete project.
The R1.9-million DriveLock encryption software of 2015 was supposed to be installed on 450 computer devices, but Mbina-Mthembu says the software was installed on only 10 computer devices.
Jindela confirmed being among those called in for questioning at the Bhisho police station, but refused to discuss what he was asked. He referred all questions to the OTP, his employer.
Smith, Khetshese and Nombekela could not be reached for comment yesterday. — zineg@dispatch.co.za
OTP senior managers questioned by police
Government spokesman Sonwabo Mbananga confirmed that the Office of the Premier (OTP) had instituted a forensic investigation into procurement irregularities and maladministration across several government departments, and that yesterday’s police action was “as a result of the ongoing investigation”.
However, Mbananga refused to divulge who was implicated in the findings, and what the findings entailed.
But the Daily Dispatch can reveal today that among those grilled yesterday was deputy director-general for monitoring and evaluation Dr Nangamso Nombekela, head of supply chain management (SCM) Elsie Smith, information and communication technology (ICT) manager Siyabulela Jindela, and senior SCM manager Andiswa Khetshese.
Mbananga said the scope given to the contractor mandated to do the investigations was that if required they might refer cases to police for criminal investigations.
“I can confirm that these are as a result of the ongoing investigations into irregularities. That is as far as I can go.
“I am in no position to name individuals or departments or sections concerned.
“That is for the police,” said Mbananga.
The questioning comes while police are still investigating an arson case after a fire gutted a file storage facility at the OTP.
Boxes full of documents – some of them apparently containing sensitive information related to a seven-year probe into procurement irregularities in various government departments and municipalities – went up in flames two months ago.
But Mbananga would not be drawn into commenting about the arson case, saying: “I am in no position to link the fire to the investigation.”
Surprisingly, the flames in premier Phumulo Masualle’s office occurred just hours after Gauteng MEC David Makhura’s office caught alight.
King William’s Town police spokeswoman Siphokazi Mawisa said police could not comment about yesterday’s questioning but could only say police were “continuing with an investigation of the arson case that occurred at the premier’s office”.
The Dispatch can also reveal that under the spotlight in yesterday’s questioning was a R1.9-million tender for installation of computer software at the OTP.
The Dispatch earlier reported that provincial director-general Marion Mbina-Mthembu had instituted charges against Jindela in connection with authorising full payment for the contract without the work being completed.
Jindela denies he authorised payment for an incomplete project.
The R1.9-million DriveLock encryption software of 2015 was supposed to be installed on 450 computer devices, but Mbina-Mthembu says the software was installed on only 10 computer devices.
Jindela confirmed being among those called in for questioning at the Bhisho police station, but refused to discuss what he was asked. He referred all questions to the OTP, his employer.
Smith, Khetshese and Nombekela could not be reached for comment yesterday. — zineg@dispatch.co.za
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