Durban: Criminal charges have been laid by the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure against one of its former officials, who has been accused of gross misconduct that cost the department R1.1 billion. Additionally, the department said it has laid criminal charges against three other employees suspected of corruption.
In a statement, the department said: “Following the dismissal of the Director of Supply Chain Management for gross negligence, which cost the department R1.1 billion, the department has formally laid a criminal charge with the South African Police Services.”
The department has previously said one of the key functions of the senior official, based in the Pietermaritzburg office, was to identify and mitigate risks while avoiding irregular expenditure during procurement processes. However, it added that in early September 2024, several discrepancies were flagged against the official regarding the awarding of contracts to a consulting company. Investigations revealed that the firm was awarded a total of 29 contracts, amounting to just over R1.1 billion.
Speaking on the charges, the office of the MEC said: “When MEC Martin Meyer was appointed as the Executive Authority for the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Public Works and Infrastructure, he vowed to expose and root out corruption within the department. MEC Meyer also committed to laying criminal charges against officials found guilty of corruption and financial misconduct.
“Furthermore, MEC Meyer stated that the department’s hard stance and zero tolerance for corruption should serve as a stern warning to companies seeking to collude with officials in the department,” the Office of the MEC said.
These developments come against the backdrop of the department strengthening its corruption whistleblower hotline and enhancing internal financial controls. The department has pledged to fully cooperate with all law enforcement agencies by handing over all necessary evidence, it concluded.