By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Gauteng education MEC Panyaza Lesufi’s name has been cleared in the controversial R30 million tender he was believed to have influenced in back in 2020.
This was revealed by the Deputy Public Protector Kholeka Gcaleka on Wednesday during the release of 16 investigative reports.
The complaint was laid back in 2020, when the Gauteng finance and e-government department irregularly awarded a contract to IN2IT Technologies.
Lesufi was accused by Anton Alberts of the Freedom Front Plus of influencing the awarding of the tender.
Gcaleka said that there was nothing unbecoming about Lesufi in the awarding of the tender.
There is no evidence indicating that Lesufi was involved in any procurement process of the SOC [Security Operations Centre] tender or that he disregarded the provisions of the code of conduct for members of the provincial executive council.”
However, she said the contract was irregularly awarded.
“The investigation revealed that e-Gov advertised and awarded the SOC tender to IN2IT without following proper procurement processes and this constituted improper conduct and maladministration.”
Gcaleka said those responsible for awarding the tender should be subjected to disciplinary action.
Meanwhile transport Minister Fikile Mbalula and director-general Alec Moemi acted irregularly in the appointment and payment of senior officials in the Department of Transport.
Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane and her deputy, Kholeka Gcaleka, on Wednesday released a number of investigation reports during a virtual media briefing session.
The reports covered a number of probes, including into public procurement, recruitment and selection of staff and the management of ratepayers funds by municipalities.
Among them was a complaint lodged by the DA to the office of the PP to investigate the ANC’s influence in the appointment of senior officials by ministers, also known as cadre deployment.
Mbalula had been accused by a group in the department calling themselves Anonymous Concerned Members of Staff.
They alleged that Mbalula and Moemi irregularly appointed advisors in the ministry of transport.
Mkhwebane said: “The investigation further revealed that Mr Mpondo’s secondment to Prasa was done contrary to the provisions of the Public Service Act, and other prescripts applicable to the department.”
The Public Protector said the three were appointed at salary ranges of R1 446 378, R1 521 591 and R1 714 074 per annum.
She said their offers, in respect of contracts of appointment, are dated 1 June 2019 and 21 March 2019, but Mchunu approved it on 27 August 2019 and 11 November 2020.
“Allegations included the appointment of Messrs Mpondo, Venkile and Khoza to positions of advisor without prior confirmation of the appointments by the Department of Public Service and Administration as required in terms of the applicable,” she added.
Mkhwebane also believes the Constitutional Court (ConCourt) violated former president Jacob Zuma’s rights in its landmark sentencing on Tuesday.
She said she was more aligned with minority judgment in the matter.
She said her office may follow up with commission of inquiry into allegations of state inquiry to see if it was complying with the remedial actions issued by her predecessor, Thuli Madonsela, back in 2016.
“That commission was established in terms of the Public Protector report, “said Mkhwebane.
“It is so unfortunate that the commission has not yet issued the report. Possibly, it’s one element which we will have to follow up on and make sure that we check whether there is compliance to our remedial actions,” said Mkhwebane.
Mkhwebane said she was yet to study the full judgment of the ConCourt but said she had evaluated the minority judgment.