Question NW1041 to the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure

Reply:

The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure:

I have been informed by the Department that:

a) and (c) Yes, consequence management has been initiated against the officials who are alleged to have had a hand in irregular appointments at a national and regional offices of the Department of Public Works & Infrastructure. The disciplinary hearings are chaired by independent chairpersons who are practicing advocates. One hearing was completed in 2020 with not guilty findings. A second hearing is nearing conclusion, but has been postponed to 20-22 April 2022. A third hearing took take place on the 30 March 2022. Furthermore, the Department has, in May 2019, lodged a court application to review and set aside the irregular appointments at the Labour Court. The date of this hearing is in May 2022.

Response with respect to North West Provincial office:

b) Yes, there is consequent management that is being applied against the officials who have been found to have had a hand in irregular appointments at Provincial Department of Public Works and Roads.

• There are three (3) cases which are currently in the process of consequence management with two (2) of the contracts being further investigated by forensic auditors

• Furthermore, there are seventeen (17) contracts currently in the process of forensic investigation with one of the terms of reference being to identify responsible official(s).

Upon completion, consequence management will be implemented as per recommendations.

NB: Kindly note that with respect to other Provincial Public Works and Roads offices, the question should be directed to their responsible MECs.