Question NW3489 to the Minister of Higher Education and Training
01 October 2015 - NW3489
Bozzoli, Prof B to ask the Minister of Higher Education and Training
Was the EastCape Midlands Technical and Vocational Education and Training College aware that a certain person (name and details furnished) had left the previous position with several audit queries still pending; if not, why not; if so, why (a) was the specified person appointed and (b) is the specified person still a staff member at the specified college despite having been suspended in January 2013 after an audit by Pricewaterhouse Coopers?
Reply:
a) Mr Abdullah was initially placed at the Eastcape Midlands Technical and Vocational Education and Training College (EMC) in 2012 as a Support Chief Financial Officer by the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA). At that stage, neither SAICA nor the Department were aware of the alleged irregularities or outstanding audit queries emanating from his previous employer, i.e. Coega Municipality.
Subsequent to his deployment, SAICA and the Department were made aware of potential contractual irregularities at EMC. SAICA, as his employer, appointed Pricewaterhouse Coopers to investigate these irregularities.
Mr Abdullah resigned from SAICA before the disciplinary process could proceed and was subsequently appointed by the former Principal of EMC as a Senior Resources Manager at the College.
This alleged irregular appointment formed part of the scope of the initial forensic investigation, but due to the court verdict indicating that the Department could not apply section 8 of the National Treasury Regulations, expenditure management, but instead had to follow section 46 of the Continuing Education and Training Act of 2006, as amended, the outcome of the irregular appointment could not be confirmed.
b) Mr Abdullah is still in the employ of the College Council as a Senior Resource Manager. His alleged irregular appointment will form part of the Terms of Reference of the new forensic investigation that is planned to be initiated with the College Council, before the end of the 2015/16 financial year.
Compiler/Contact persons:
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DIRECTOR – GENERAL
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REPLY TO QUESTION 3489 APPROVED/NOT APPROVED/AMENDED
Dr BE NZIMANDE, MP
MINISTER OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND TRAINING
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