News24 reports that the City of Johannesburg has fired a senior official over not declaring ownership of three companies the city did business with, and for trying to influence a tender.  

Andrew Stewart, strategic adviser in the Department of Economic Development, said on Friday:  "The official engaged in private business without prior consent from the City, breached our code of ethics, influenced procurement decisions for their (his/her) own benefit and acted against the interests of the City."  The employee was charged with dishonesty, not divulging outside business interests and trying to unduly influence contracts.  He/she was found guilty, and fired.  Stewart said the department was consulting with lawyers to see whether criminal charges were feasible.  Because the maintenance work had actually been done, the city was not sure whether it could recover any money.  Stewart clarified that the official did not award the contracts to him/herself, but that a panel had made the decision.  The city also wanted further information on how the panel made its decision and whether the panel knew of the employee's link to the companies.

• Read this report by Jenni Evans in full at News24
• See too, Johannesburg City dismisses senior official for corruption, at The Citizen

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