The dismissal of three senior officials from the North West Provincial Administration should sent a strong message that the provincial government is committed to rid itself of maladministration and corruption, North West Executive Council (Exco) resolved in its meeting held in Mahikeng on Wednesday.
Exco welcomed the outcome of disciplinary cases against former Acting Head of Department for the Provincial Department of Public Works, Roads and Transport who was the substantive Chief Director for Roads and the Chief Financial Officer. Both officials were on suspension for irregularities related to the awarding of the
Koster-Lichtenburg road construction tender, In welcoming the announcement by MEC for Public Roads and Transport, Raymond Elisha, Exco expressed concern that the two officials had taken up employment with Mogale City Council and Ditsobotla Local Municipality while on suspension.
In line with the earlier commitment made by Premier Thandi Modise during the Provincial Roads Summit held this month that her administration will strive to recoup every cent lost through fraud and corruption, Exco resolved that the department should recoup whatever monies which the state might have lost as a result of the action of those involved.
Premier Thandi Modise had warned that her administration is tightening the screw against corruption with a major focus on price collusion within the tendering system and will pursue corruption syndicates relentlessly until those who have been looting state resources are behind bars and their properties repossessed.
Premier Modise had sternly warned that those that thought that they were untouchable and could loot state resources with impunity should know that its game time.
“You have reached this far and no further. We are not going to be scared off or succumb to any pressure to abandon the fight against corruption because road users deserve quality and safer roads. We will not be bought because our integrity is not for sale,” Modise had vowed.
She had emphasised that the province cannot afford to pay three to four times what other provinces are paying for road construction and that communities deserve quality and safer roads and not expensive but inferior roads.
Meanwhile, MEC for Sports, Arts and Culture Tebogo Modise also announced the dismissal of an Assistant Director from her department who was found guilty of defrauding reservation bookings monies from the Rustenburg Cultural Centre. Further investigations into the matter are being pursued by MEC Modise’s department.
Enquiries:
Lesiba Moses Kgwele
Tel: 018 388 3705
Cell: 083 629 1987
Fax: 018 388 3157
E-mail: LKgwele@gmail.com
