In a move that could make anyone double-check their expense reports, the Department of Public Works in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) has slapped criminal charges on one of their own senior officials over a whopping R1.1 billion corruption scandal. The Director of Supply Chain Management has been accused of gross negligence, costing the department a fortune and, quite frankly, a reputation.
The scandal emerged when, in September, the department discovered glaring issues with the procurement of a consulting company. Missing documents, dodgy discrepancies, and contracts handed out like candy led to one company bagging 29 contracts worth over R1.1 billion—talk about a monopoly! Not only did this violate procurement processes, but it also raised serious questions about how deep the corruption went.
In addition to the axed director, the department has also laid charges against three other senior officials who allegedly played their part in the financial mismanagement. MEC Martin Meyer has made it clear that corruption won’t be tolerated and that any companies thinking about partnering up with dodgy officials better think again.
The message is simple: if you’re in the business of corruption, the KZN Public Works department is out for you.