News24 reports that a senior official at the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Public Works and Infrastructure has been dismissed following gross negligence that cost the department a whopping R1.1 billion.
The Public Works and Infrastructure MEC Martin Meyer confirmed the dismissal of the supply chain management director, Musa William Zondi. He said the R1.1-billion loss amounted to 60% of the department's annual budget. In early September last year, several discrepancies were flagged against Zondi regarding the procurement of a certain consulting company. "Once concluded, the investigations found that one single firm was awarded a total of 29 contracts to the value of R1,164,440,398 or just over R1.1 billion. This meant that the firm held an unfair and unchecked monopoly over contracts issued by KZN Public Works and Infrastructure," said Meyer. Zondi was also found guilty on a further charge of failing to implement the department's cellphone policy and keeping a database of official mobile devices issued. This resulted in 57 active cellphone contracts still being paid for by the department in respect of cellphones that had been issued to employees who had left the department. Zondi was also found guilty of issuing himself four official work phones and other charges. Meyer said he was pleased that the disciplinary process had taken a mere two months, meaning finality was reached much sooner than expected.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Sakhiseni Nxumalo at News24 (subscription / trial registration required)
- Read too, Senior KZN Public Works and Infrastructure official dismissed after probe into gross misconduct, at The Mercury
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