By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
@GalloImages.
The CEO of the Property Practitioners Regulatory Authority, Mamodupi Mohlala, has been placed on precautionary suspension.
The authority’s board chair, Steven Ngubeni, announced the decision on Monday and the suspension comes after allegations of financial and appointments irregularities.
Mohlala, who was appointed in February 2019, was suspended on Friday, according to board member Pamela Makhubela.
She told a news conference in Johannesburg the suspension would be in effect until the conclusion and findings of an investigation.
“The investigation is to be conducted by an independent forensic investigator and that investigator is in the process of being appointed.”
The board had appointed Deli Nkambule, the authority’s legal manager and enforcement and compliance executive, as acting CEO.
“The decision to suspend was an unanimous one taken by the board. The board believes the suspension is best in ensuring a thorough and transparent investigation can take place.”
She said the allegations against Mohlala related to the alleged suspension and loss of pension fund payments and irregular employee appointments.
In 2021 the pension funds adjudicator tribunal found Mohlala had allegedly disregarded pension fund scheme rules after allegedly issuing instructions for the suspension of a number of employees’ pension fund contribution deductions.
A previously ordered forensic investigation into the affairs of the entity still remains incomplete due to the failure of the previous Board to address mounting complaints in earnest.
The appointment of a new PPRA Board by Minister Mamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane has now paved the way for the chickens to finally come home to roost for Mohlala.
Acutely aware that not even party allegiance can protect the missteps of the CEO any further, senior ANC members, including the Deputy Minister were last week compelled to call Mohlala to order during a meeting of Parliament.
Meanwhile the Democratic Alliance (DA) welcomes the decision of the Board of the Property Practitioners Regulatory Authority to finally place Mohlala on suspension.
In a statement, DA said this, pending an investigation by a sub-committee of the new Board into allegations received from the Public Service Commission’s Whistleblower Hotline.”
This set of complaints is the latest in a raft of serious and ongoing allegations into the conduct of the CEO that span most of her tenure with the entity, added DA.
The DA urges the Board to ensure that the investigation is concluded speedily, and that any officials found guilty of mismanagement and maladministration face the full might of the law, without fear or favor.