News24 reports that the SA National Roads Agency (Sanral) confirmed last Wednesday, in response to questions, that it had suspended its chief procurement officer (CPO) and chief audit executive.

CPO Khomotso Mhelembe had been with Sanral for less than a year before being asked to take a leave of absence. Zolisa Zwakala, the chief audit executive, joined Sanral in the past two years. The suspensions leave Sanral with major gaps in senior leadership. It has been without a chief financial officer for two years, after the previous incumbent, Inge Mulder, left in August last year. Before her resignation, Mulder had spent a year on suspension without a conclusive disciplinary hearing after the board claimed she had flouted procurement policy. Sanral spokesperson Vusi Mona said the process of appointing a new CFO was advanced, and an appointment would be made soon.

However, Sanral has had a turbulent relationship with its top executives in the finance and procurement portfolios. At the same time that Mulder was suspended in 2023, the board also suspended Inba Thumbiran, the head of supply chain management. Thumbiran also resigned from Sanral after waiting a year for her disciplinary process to be finalised. The two officials were experienced career civil servants with impeccable credentials.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Carol Paton at News24 (subscription / trial registration required)

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