Mpumalanga Premier David Mabuza today shared the outcomes of the investigations by two commissions of enquiry he appointed in July this year. Commission one focused on alleged procurement irregularities in the construction of the provincial Disaster Management Centre as well as the provincial Archives Building, and commission two focused on alleged irregularities in the supply chain processes and management of scholar transport in the province.
The first commission was chaired by Mpumalanga Regional Court President Ms Naome Engelbrecht assisted by Ms Marietha Hendriks, a practicing attorney.
The second Commission of Enquiry into Scholar Transport was chaired by an experienced practicing attorney Ms Hettie Groenewald and assisted by Mr Sipho Khumalo who is an expert in the transport related issues. The Commission on Scholar Transport has not concluded its task, and has been granted an extension. They submitted a preliminary report to Premier Mabuza.
The findings and recommendations: Commission on Alleged Irregularities in the former Department of Public Works
The commission’s report confirmed severe flouting of supply chain management processes in the former Department of Public Works in the awarding of the tenders for the construction of the provincial Disaster Management Centre and the provincial Archives Building.
The commission recommended that the provincial government recover an amount exceeding R61 million from the implicated consultants and government officials. The findings further revealed that there were a huge price variation and confirmed that there were omissions and negligence on the part of some departmental officials. This resulted in consultants overpricing the construction of the Disaster Management Centre to the value of R19 million, and the Archives Building from the initial R93 million to R148 million.
Premier Mabuza said, “I am shocked by the unjustified escalation and the flouting of procurement procedures that took place in the then Department of Public Works”.
He promised that disciplinary proceedings will be taken against government officials implicated in the report. The Premier said, “This wasteful expenditure cannot go unpunished”.
The Premier has also reiterated the provincial government’s commitment to fight corruption, adding that the provincial administration must be open and transparent and subscribe to the principles of good governance.
For more information:
Mabutho Sithole
Cell: 082 389 3348
Tel: 013 766 2055
E-mail: mabutho@prem.mpu.gov.za
Issued by: Office of the Premier, Mpumalanga Provincial Government
5 October 2009
