8 Officials Suspended Over Irregular R1.2 Billion Waste Contracts

Eight officials from the Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries were placed on suspension following a forensic investigation into R2.1 billion worth of contracts allegedly irregularly awarded by the Waste Management Bureau.

The bureau’s mandate includes promoting and facilitating minimisation, re-use, recycling and recovery of waste, and disbursing of revenue collected from waste management charges.

During the audit of the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2019, the Auditor-General identified several tenders that were irregularly awarded, including nine with a multi-year contract value of R2.1 billion and expenditure for the 2018/19 financial year of R337 million.

An investigation set in motion by Minister Barbara Creecy had to determine whether any loses were suffered and whether any officials or third parties had committed any acts of fraud or corruption.

An independent forensic investigation company found there was some wrongdoing on the part of the department’s bureaucrats.

“With regard to six of the nine tenders, with a combined value of R1 282 850 820.61, the investigation found prima-facie evidence illustrating irregular appointments arose as a result of negligence, misconduct and/or possible fraud and corruption by certain officials of the department,” the department said.

The department is in the process of taking disciplinary steps in respect of the misconduct identified in the report.

– Additional reporting by SAnews.gov.za