Public protector Thulisile Madonsela has cleared communications minister Siphiwe Nyanda of any misconduct. This followed two investigations into tenders awarded to a company Nyanda is allegedly linked to.
“It is our hope that these findings put to rest the string of continued malicious allegations made against the minister by opposition parties with regard to what was perceived to be conflict of interest,” Nyanda’s spokesman Tiyani Rikhotso said on Wednesday evening.
The two tender scandals surfaced earlier this year and involved a business with alleged links to the minister, Abalozi Security Risk Services. Abalozi was formerly known as General Nyanda Security Risk Advisory Services (GNS).
President Jacob Zuma released a statement on Wednesday evening, detailing the results of the investigations into Nyanda, which were conducted after complaints were lodged by the Democratic Alliance (DA) and the Congress of the People (Cope).
“No evidence could be found implicating him in the process of securing the Gauteng roads contract or any of the other contracts,” the protector’s report says.
The report says there is also no evidence that Nyanda has any direct involvement with Abolozi, or benefited financially from any of the contracts.
Earlier this year, Cope’s Juli Killian asked Madonsela to look into reports Abalozi had been unduly awarded a R55m contract with Transnet Freight Rail.
Transnet Freight Rail CEO Siyabonga Gama was fired in June after the awarding several allegedly unsavoury tenders, including the one to Abalozi.
Nyanda came out in support of Gama, saying the media was targeting the axed CEO. Though the public protector has not found Nyanda guilty of any transgressions, he has been slapped on the wrist for his public support of Gama.
The second allegation against Nyanda involved a R71m tender awarded by the Gauteng roads and transport department, also to Abolozi, though at the time it was known as GNS.
The department subsequently cancelled the tender after a legal review found that prescribed procurement processes were not followed.
In a statement, Nyanda says he feels vindicated by the public protector’s findings. — Staff reporter, TechCentral
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