The Democratic Alliance (DA) demands answers as to why 13 suspended officials have returned to work at the Gauteng Department of Social Development (GDSD) without being subjected to a disciplinary process.
Some of the officials, who include Chief Directors, Directors, and Regional Managers, were suspended in September 2023 for their alleged involvement in corrupt procurement processes.
The reappointment of these officials amid the Hawks investigation erodes trust in the integrity of the disciplinary processes followed by the GDSD in dealing with this matter. Furthermore, their secret return highlights the absence of transparency and fairness in the department.
In the previous term, the DA wrote to the now former MEC of the GDSD, Mbali Hlophe, demanding to know the exact reasons behind the suspension of these officials, the duration of each official’s suspension, how many have undergone disciplinary hearings, and the outcomes of those hearings. To date, we have not received a reply.
The DA has resubmitted these questions to the newly appointed MEC for Social Development, Faith Mazibuko, demanding answers on the handling of the disciplinary process for the suspended 13 officials: including monies paid whilst they were sitting at home and salaries paid to those who came to act in their positions.
Gauteng residents deserve to know what happened, as they are the ones who contribute to the salaries of these officials. It cannot be that cases are handled behind the scenes and resolved in secrecy.
The DA leadership would create a clean and transparent government where disciplinary processes are followed without fear or favour and the outcomes communicated to the Gauteng residents.
The DA will submit follow up questions and expose the reason for the suspensions and their lifting.