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Minister of the Environment, Forestry and Fisheries Barbara Creecy.
- The Department of the Environment, Forestry and Fisheries has placed eight officials on preventive suspension.
- Tenders worth nearly R1.3 billion were found to be awarded irregularly in the 2018-19 financial year.
- The AG raised the alarm about the tenders during its audit of the department’s financial statements.
The Department of the Environment, Forestry and Fisheries has placed eight officials on preventive suspension after tenders worth nearly R1.3 billion were irregularly awarded.
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The suspension follows a forensic investigation into contracts allegedly awarded irregularly by the Office of Waste Management, according to a statement from department spokesperson Albi Modise.
Forestry, Fisheries and Environment Minister Barbara Creecy ordered former CEO Nosipho Ngcaba to launch an investigation after the Auditor General (AG) identified several bids awarded irregularly during his audit of the department’s financial statements to the year ending March 31, 2019.
It included nine tenders awarded by the Waste Management Office, with a total value of the multi-year contract of R $ 105 168 218.93 and expenses for the 2018-19 fiscal year for R337 006 699.80.
The investigation was to determine whether:
- the department suffered losses;
- the apartment received good value for money;
- any official or third party had committed acts of fraud or corruption; Y
- Anyone can be held liable under the law for irregular expenses.
An independent forensic investigation firm carried out the investigation.
“With respect to six of the nine tenders, with a combined value of R1 282850820.61, the investigation found prima facie The evidence illustrating the irregular appointments arose as a result of negligence, misconduct and / or possible fraud and corruption on the part of certain department officials, ”the statement read.
“The department is in the process of taking disciplinary action regarding the misconduct identified in the report. All the system recommendations outlined in the forensic investigation report will also be implemented in due course.”
The investigation found no evidence of misconduct by officials or losses suffered by the department in the other three tenders, which have a combined value of R822 317 398.32.
It was determined that the department received a good value for money and, subsequently, the department will seek remission from the National Treasury for the irregular expenses incurred.
– Compiled by Jan Gerber
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