Question NW2309 to the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure
30 November 2021 - NW2309
Graham, Ms SJ to ask the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure
(1)What (a) progress has been made regarding the disciplinary action taken against the officials of her department with respect to the Beit Bridge border fence, (b) total number of disciplinary cases have (i) been completed and (ii) not been completed, (c) are the reasons that the cases have not been finalised and (d) are the outcomes of the cases that were completed; (2) whether any progress has been made in finalising the case against a certain person (name furnished); if not, what are the reasons that it has not been finalised; if so, what are the outcomes of the case; (3) whether any progress has been made in finalising the case against the Director-General; if not, what are the reasons that it has not been finalised; if so, what were the outcomes of the case?
Reply:
The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure
1. (a) The hearings on the Beitbridge border fence consists of two phases. The first phase of the hearing is in respect of three senior managers and the second phase is in respect of the eleven NBAC members. The disciplinary hearing for the three senior managers was postponed until further notice by the Chairperson; pending the finalisation of the High Court review application served and filed by one of the senior managers in May 2021. The record of the review in terms of Rule 35, has been served and filed. However, the Applicant has since, requested additional information and documents. The record has been prepared and forwarded to State Attorney and Counsel for advice and releasing of same, in order to ensure that the Applicant supplements his papers and affords the Minister and ADG an opportunity to serve their answering papers.
Secondly, the hearings of the 11 NBAC members was scheduled for the 08 -12 November 2021 for continuation of hearings, but the hearing dealt with an application for postponement by NBAC members, through their legal representatives. After agreement and undertaking by the employee parties’ representatives that there will be no further postponements, the hearing was postponed to 14 – 25 February 2022.
2. Following a review application of the final Beitbridge report by one of Department officials charged, the Minister was advised to postpone the process until the outcome of the court application. Due to the proposed length of time of the legal proceedings, the Minister sought legal advice and was advised to continue with the DC. The Minister is scheduled to meet the Initiator on 10 December 2021 to finalize the charge sheet.
3. This matter is being dealt with by the Minister in the Presidency.