The DA in Gauteng has laid charges against former head of the province’s roads and transport department in connection with a tender involving axed communications minister Siphiwe Nyanda’s company.
“I have laid a charge of financial misconduct against Mr Sibusiso Buthelezi, the former head of the Gauteng roads and transport department, for his apparent gross negligence,” said DA spokesman Jack Bloom in a statement.
He alleged that Buthelezi had awarded a contract to GNS Risk Advisory Services, a company that was 45% owned by Nyanda, without procurement processes being followed.
The charge, Bloom said, was laid at the commercial crimes unit in Johannesburg.
Premier Nomvula Mokonyane’s spokesman Dumisani Zulu declined to comment as the matter had been concluded by the department.
He also added that Buthelezi was no longer working for the provincial government.
GNS, now renamed to Abalozi Security, was given the contract without the tender being publicly advertised, said Bloom.
“I estimate that the department probably overpaid more than R50m out of the R71m paid to Abalozi before its contract was cancelled in March this year after it was awarded in October 2007,” he said.
Buthelezi has been charged under Section 81 of the Public Finance Management Act.
“It is an utter disgrace that Gauteng premier Nomvula Mokonyane has ruled out any action against Buthelezi in this matter,” Bloom said.
He said Buthelezi faced a possible criminal sentence, which could lead to a fine or a jail sentence. — Sapa
- Subscribe to our free daily newsletter
- Follow us on Twitter or on Facebook
