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By ANA Reporter 
9h ago
Cape Town – The Department of the Environment, Forestry and Fisheries has placed eight officials on preventive suspension following a forensic investigation into contracts that were allegedly awarded irregularly by the department’s Office of Waste Management.
The department said the suspension is effective as of today.
During the audit of the financial statements for the year ended March 31, 2019, the auditor general identified a series of bids that were awarded irregularly.
These included nine tenders awarded by the Office of Waste Management with a total multi-year contract value of more than R2.1 billion and expenses for the 2018/19 fiscal year that amounted to more than R300 million.
The Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Barbara Creecy, tasked the then CEO Nosipho Ngcaba with launching an investigation to determine the reasons for the irregular award of tenders.
The investigation was to cover areas such as whether the department suffered losses; if the apartment received a good value for money; if any official / third party had committed acts of fraud and corruption; and whether anyone could be held legally liable for irregular expenses. An independent forensic investigation company was appointed to conduct the investigation, the department said.
With respect to six of the nine tenders, with a combined value of R1 2,82850,820.61, the investigation found prima facie The evidence illustrating irregular appointments arose as a result of negligence, misconduct and / or possible fraud and corruption on the part of certain department officials.
The department said it was taking disciplinary action for the misconduct identified in the report. All system recommendations outlined in the forensic investigation report will also be implemented in due course.
“With respect to the three remaining tenders, with a combined value of R822 317 398.32, the investigation found no evidence indicating misconduct by officials or losses suffered by the department,” the statement said.
“The apartment was found to receive good value for money. As such, the department will seek the forgiveness of the National Treasury for the irregular expenses incurred in this regard, ”he said.
African News Agency (ANA)
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