The Minister of Water and Sanitation, Mrs Nomvula Mokonyane said the department was working cooperatively with both the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) and the Public Protector to finalise their investigations into the department.
Responding to questions of the Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Water and Sanitation’s based on the department’s First Quarter Progress Report for Financial Year 2017/18, Minister Mokonyane said the department had sent responses to questions that were raised by the SIU almost more than a year ago.
“The last time we communicated with the investigative unit is when we submitted our response and made a commitment to participate in working with the unit to expedite the process of the investigation. Since our submission of responses we have had no further communication,” said Minister Mokonyane.
Minister Mokonyane told the Portfolio Committee that the SIU’s investigations also entailed issues prior to 2014, saying that currently there was no report on the progress of the investigations.
Minister Mokonyane said she was also aware that there were a number of issues before the Public Protector, but that similarly there has not been a report to date forthcoming on the progress of investigation.
The SIU are investigating tender and other matters relating to the Giyani Emergency Project while the Public Protector is looking into the Lesotho Highlands Water Project.
Commenting on concerns of instability in the department since the suspension of Director-General, Mr Dan Mashitisho, Minister Mokonyane told members of the committee that the interim governance arrangements had been put in place to guide the work of department in the absence of the DG.
She said an Acting DG had been appointed while the matter of the suspended DG was being dealt between the department and the legal representatives for Mr Mashitisho, stressing that the matter would be expedited to ensure that the stability was restored in the department.
“The first hearing on the matter was supposed to have taken place last week but due to the DG falling ill, the matter was postponed. A new date is being identified between the legal representatives of Mr Mashitisho and the department,” Minister Mokonyane said.
For more information contact:
Mlimandlela Ndamase
Cell: 083 480 0014
Sputnik Ratau
Cell: 082 874 2942
Hosia Sithole
Cell: 072 530 8500
