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The officials were placed on precautionary suspension, which was uplifted through an arbitration award. Currently, disciplinary processes are ongoing for the four implicated officials. – Mpumalanga Public Works, Roads and Transport spokesperson, Bongani Dlamini.

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Sizwe sama Yende

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The four Mpumalanga Public Works, Roads and Transport officials implicated in Covid-19 corruption and whose properties were among those worth R52.6 million that frozen this week are working normally and they will not be suspended.

According to the department’s spokesperson, Bongani Dlamini, the officials were, however, currently undergoing a disciplinary hearing alleged corruption in personal protective equipment.

The implicated departmental officials are Bandile Jacob Ngcobo, a state accountant, Sipho Monareng (the acting chief director: immovable assets management), Macdonald Buko Sigudla (deputy director: facilities), Dorries Mbatha (supply chain), Godisamang Molotsane (supply chain director) and Kobus Mkhabela (deputy director: property management).

Molotsane and Sigudla jumped off the wagon in the wake of the charges last year and resigned from their jobs.

Dlamini justified the department’s decision for not suspending the four officials.

“The officials were placed on precautionary suspension, which was uplifted through an arbitration award. Currently, disciplinary processes are ongoing for the four implicated officials,” he said.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has, nonetheless, called on the department to immediately suspend the implicated officials.

“Suspending these officials will give the department enough time to do the internal investigation without any interference and sabotage. The DA also calls on the rest of the provincial government, including departments and municipalities, to blacklist all the implicated service providers and entities,” said Member of Parliament, Bosman Grobler.

Grobler said that in 2022, the SIU reported that Mpumalanga government departments that included Health and Education, and municipalities lost R520 million in Covid-19-related malfeasance, but former premier, Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane swept it under the carpet.

The Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) of the National Prosecuting Authority, the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) obtained a preservation order from the Mpumalanga Division of the High Court to seize various assets and properties valued at approximately R52.6 million. 

The assets and properties belong senior management officials, service providers, and entities involved in an alleged corruption network within the Mpumalanga Department of Public Works.

The AFU has seized various assets in Mpumalanga, Gauteng, North-West, and Western Cape provinces associated with personal protective equipment (PPE) corruption money. 

“The operation included serving orders at 34 locations and capturing inventories of 29 properties, 31 vehicles, and a boat trailer. The court order freezes properties such as houses, electronics, cars, household items, jewellery, arms, ammunition, bank accounts, salaries, and bail monies. All internet banking privileges will be removed from the accused as of July 23, 2024,” the three law enforcement agencies said in a statement.

LAWSUIT

Meanwhile, Monareng has instituted a R5 million lawsuit against the Hawks for distributing his photo to the media.

According to Monareng’s letter of demand dated October 11 2022,  he was summoned to the Hawks offices in Mpumalanga on September 28.

Mpumalanga Hawks spokesperson, Captain Dineo Sekgotodi, took his photo for record purposes.

“On arrival (at the Hawks offices), he (Monareng) was told by Warrant Officer Madonsela that he was now under arrest. Our client was directed to lean in front of a special wall where a photo of him was taken.

"When our client enquired about the taking of the photos, he was told that it was part of processing measures and for official records. The spokesperson for the Hawks in Mpumalanga dropped the photo taken of our client on a social media group of WhatsApp, where journalists are participants and the WhatsApp group is allegedly administered by the Hawks,” Simelane-Mthembu said.

She added that the mainstream print and electronic media had used, and continue to use, the official photos captured by the Hawks’ official in [her] official duties for official purpose and thereon the property of the state (the photos) has been distributed to the media to be used for news headlines.