The Gauteng Department of Infrastructure Development (GDID) has spent R21 million on eight suspended officials’ salaries while they sit at home, for over two-and-a-half years.
This information was revealed in a reply to the Democratic Alliance’s (DA) questions tabled in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL) to the MEC for Infrastructure Development, Jacob Mamabolo.
According to MEC Mamabolo, five officials have been suspended for more than 971 days at a staggering cost of R19 704 806,18. These officials have been suspended for procurement irregularities. Two officials have been suspended for the theft of hospital equipment, which cost the department R313 497,52.
The department’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO) has been suspended for more than 211 days and has cost the department R1 094 548,74. She is accused of insubordination and non-attendance of Bid Adjudication Committee meetings.
The total sum of R21,112,852.44 has been paid to suspended officials who are not contributing anything to the department and the residents of Gauteng.
Delays in implementation and finalising disciplinary processes are costing Gauteng residents a fortune that could be used to improve their living conditions. Furthermore, this department fails to ensure that key infrastructure projects such as clinics, libraries, and schools are delivered on time and within budget and is wasting money on paying suspended officials.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) demands that these cases be finalised and that the suspended officials either be re-instated or have their contracts terminated. The vacancies must be filled immediately to ensure that the department is adequately resourced to execute its infrastructure development mandate to the residents of Gauteng.
The DA will be tabling a motion in the GPL to call for swift resolution of the disciplinary processes to ensure that delays are limited. It has become a norm in all the departments that disciplinary processes are delayed, and officials will continue to receive salaries while sitting at home.
A DA-led Gauteng provincial government would ensure that where officials face disciplinary action, these matters are finalised as soon as possible so that money is not wasted on paying salaries for a protracted time.