Cape Town — KZN Public Works and Infrastructure MEC Martin Meyer announced that criminal charges have been laid against a department manager and three senior officials implicated in corruption and financial misconduct.
Meyer revealed that the senior official’s responsibilities included mitigating risks and ensuring compliance during procurement. However, in September 2024, discrepancies were flagged in the procurement of a consulting company, it said in a statement.
“These included missing documents, significant discrepancies between services requested and procured, and the failure to conduct required checks and balances to ensure fair tender awards,” said Meyer.
Investigations uncovered that a single firm was awarded 29 contracts worth over R1.1 billion, creating what Meyer described as an “unfair and unchecked monopoly” over departmental contracts.
The MEC added that the department is strengthening its whistleblower hotline and internal financial controls. It also pledged full cooperation with law enforcement agencies, including providing necessary evidence.
“These developments underline the department’s commitment to rooting out corruption and ensuring accountability,” Meyer concluded.
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Picture: Facebook/KwaZulu-Natal Department of Public Works
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Compiled by Matthew Petersen
