The Gauteng Department of Education and Youth Development has served three senior managers with charges after a Special Investigating Unit investigation on the use of funds for the decontamination of schools in Gauteng.
Earlier this year, a report by the department found that over R400 million had been spent on decontamination in just three months and that most of it was unnecessary.
While the investigation into the mismanagement of funds is still ongoing, the department says they will not rule out the possibility of charging others.
“It has been recommended that the Head of Supply Chain, Chief Director for Infrastructure Development, and Acting Director for Auxiliary Services be charged in accordance to the findings in the investigation report. It is important to note that the GDE intends for this process to be facilitated by an independent body outside the department and, thus, has approached the Office of the State Attorney to assist. Even though we do not want to pre-judge the outcome of the disciplinary hearing, it is paramount to reiterate our position in this matter, that the officials who caused this expenditure, need to be taken to task,” Gauteng Education Department Spokesperson Steve Mabona explains.
VIDEO: Over R400 million spent by Gauteng Education on decontaminating schools: Steve Mabona
At the time, the Democratic Alliance called for Gauteng Premier, David Makhura, to take urgent special leave, pending the outcomes of SIU investigations into another scandal involving the procurement of Personal Protective Equipment.
In a statement, the DA said Makhura had failed to prevent the PPE corruption scandal, which allegedly happened under his watch.
The DA sayid the former Gauteng Health Department Chief Financial Officer, Kabelo Lehloenya, had implicated Makhura in the awarding of the multi-million PPE tenders, after she stated in an affidavit that Makhura gave her the names of the companies to appoint, supply and deliver PPEs in the province.
