North West Chief Director for Roads Management, Mr Eddie Thebe, has been suspended with immediate effect on allegations of mismanagement and misconduct.
MEC for the Department of Public Works, Roads and Transport, Mahlakeng Mahlakeng, today called on the appointed private forensic auditing firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers, "to launch the investigation without delay".
Head of department, Mr Nic Van Staden confirmed the precautionary suspension of Thebe, during a meeting of his senior managers in Mafikeng.
He said Thebe was served with the suspension notice this past Friday. Mahlakeng and Van Staden confirmed that Thebe would be on "precautionary suspension" pending the outcome of the investigations by PricewaterhouseCoopers.
Mahlakeng had instructed the forensic investigators to:
* Determine and make recommendations on whether there were alleged contravention of rules and regulations relating to "prudent management" of resources by Thebe. This, Mahlakeng said, related to the appointment of consultants or contractors for various road capital projects beyond the current financial year.
* Whether Thebe contravened the rules governing the procurement of services in the awarding of various roads capital projects in relation to the "emergency contracts".
* Whether there were any contraventions of the rules in the manner in which variation orders were managed on various roads capital projects.
Thebe's suspension and the subsequent investigation followed correspondence dated 1 September from Mahlakeng to Van Staden calling on him to initiate an investigation against Thebe.
Mahlakeng said there appeared to be "serious issues bordering on possible misconduct" against Thebe.
This he said, was informed by the numerous discussions and briefings he had with a number of stakeholders dating back to May this year.
Mahlakeng said his move was informed by Thebe's "incapacity" and also the alleged "management of resources, proper planning and the general laxity of which the priorities of the road management unit are being executed."
Sandile Mbanjwa, Chief Director Infrastructure has been appointed Acting Chief Director: Roads Management.
Issued by: Department of Public Works, Roads and Transport, North West Provincial Government
7 September 2009
