DIRECTOR GENERAL OF PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT SUSPENDED
 On 8 December 2010, Minister Gwen Mahlanga-Nkabinda of the national Public Works Department, announced the suspension of the Director-General of the Department. Siviwe Dongwana, the Director-General was suspended for a period of three months. The Minister said, "the Director-General's suspension stems from charges relating but not restricted to insubordination, dereliction of duty, failure to discharge official duties and bringing the Department into disrepute".
According to media reports Dongwana authorised the award of two contracts worth in excess of R500million for the lease of buildings in Pretoria and Durban respectively, for use by the South African Police Service (SAPS). It was alleged that the National Treasury requirements of contracts in excess of R500 000 being subject to a public bidding process, were by-passed. When the award of these contracts became known, the matter received wide publicity and former Public Works Minister Geoff Doidge, at the time, put the deals on hold when it was also decided that the Public Protector and the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) would probe allegations of maladministration, improper and unlawful conduct on the part of the Public Works Department.
Public Protector Thuli Madonsela's final report on the outcome of the investigation was expected to be released early in January 2011, but is now likely only to be completed by February. The delay was caused by a request of the National Treasury for more time to scrutinise the preliminary report. The SAPS and Public Works Department were also granted extension of time to 23 January 2011 to comment on the preliminary report after failing to meet an earlier return date for input.
Businessman, Roux Shabanga who has an interest in the company, awarded the contracts for the lease of the buildings in Pretoria and Durban for the intended occupation and use of the South African Police Services. One of his companies, Roux Property Development Services Africa, appears to have experienced difficulties in carrying out work on the new Police Station in KwaMhlanga outside Pretoria. This company was employed on this project as either the main or a sub-contractor. It is claimed that the contract with the Company was terminated during August due to alleged shoddy work, missing important deadlines and failing to pay suppliers.
What has gone almost unnoticed, were comments by the Minister Mahlanga-Nkabinde, made during December that the Department would honour the award of the contracts for the lease of the buildings as it was legally committed to the deals and that Dongwana remained innocent until proven guilty.
The final findings of the Public Protector and the SIU are accordingly keenly awaited.
Pieter Rautenbach |
