Press Statement dated 14 May 2018
Alleged fraudulent activities and the squandering of millions over the past seven years by the Government Pension Administration Agency (GPAA) on a modernisation project has moved the Public Servants Association (PSA) to call for a forensic investigation into mismanagement.
The PSA that represents hundreds of thousands of public servants, is concerned that this protracted project seems to be struggling to yield results, despite vast amounts of money being injected. “An investigation by audit firm, SizweNtsalubaGobodo, into the project revealed serious financial mismanagement, implicating some senior management members. The GPAA, however, refused to officially release the investigation report and other reports on financial irregularities to unions. The PSA approached the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) for disclosure of information to force the release of the report, but the GPAA sourced the services of a law firm to defend it at the CCMA in an effort to block the release of the report,” said PSA General Manager, Ivan Fredericks.
The PSA expressed further concern about investigations against GPAA senior managers following verbal abuse of employees. “The aggrieved employees have handed a petition to the office of the CEO demanding action against such manager but still the GPAA refuses to release the investigation report to unions. The PSA is also aware of some irregular appointments in the GPAA, as admitted by the GPAA in a Departmental Bargaining Chamber meeting, but nothing is being done to correct these irregularities,” said Mr Fredericks.
The PSA further expressed concerned about costly renovations of the GPAA building, despite an agreement in the Departmental Bargaining Chamber that the GPAA must relocate to a new building given structural defects in the current building. “An investigation by the Department of Public Works revealed that the building has structural defects that cannot be addressed as the building is very old and cannot be changed as it is a heritage site,” said Mr Fredericks.
The PSA calls on the CEO to disclose the requested information in the interest of the reputation of the GPAA as allegations of this extent warrant a forensic investigation,” said Mr Fredericks.
Issued by Ivan Fredericks, General Manager, Public Servants Association (PSA)